Oklahoma’s diverse landscapes, including its forests, prairies, and shaded urban areas, are susceptible to invasive plant species that thrive in low-light environments. These invasive plants can spread rapidly, outcompeting native species and disrupting local ecosystems. Identifying these plants and choosing native alternatives is essential for preserving Oklahoma’s natural beauty and biodiversity.
List of Invasive Shade-Tolerant Garden Plants in Oklahoma
1. Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense)
Description: A dense, evergreen shrub with small, dark green leaves and white flowers. Often used for hedging but highly invasive.
Impact: Chinese Privet forms dense thickets in shaded areas, outcompeting native plants and reducing habitat quality for wildlife.
Garden Alternative: Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) - A native shrub with red berries that supports wildlife and thrives in shaded environments.
2. Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
Description: A vigorous, semi-evergreen vine with fragrant white to yellow flowers and dark green leaves, often planted for its ornamental value.
Impact: Japanese Honeysuckle forms dense mats that smother native plants, reducing biodiversity in shaded and woodland areas.
Garden Alternative: Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) - A native vine with tubular red flowers that attract hummingbirds and thrive in shaded environments.
3. Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei)
Description: An evergreen vine or ground cover with glossy, dark green leaves, commonly used for erosion control and ornamental purposes.
Impact: Wintercreeper spreads aggressively, forming dense mats that smother native plants, particularly in shaded areas.
Garden Alternative: Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) - A native vine that provides similar coverage and vibrant fall color without the invasive tendencies.
4. Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
Description: A deciduous tree with white spring blossoms and glossy green leaves, often planted for its ornamental value.
Impact: Callery Pear spreads into natural areas, creating dense thickets that shade out and outcompete native plants, leading to reduced biodiversity.
Garden Alternative: Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) - A native tree that offers white spring flowers and edible berries, providing ecological benefits without the invasive tendencies.
5. Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Description: A deciduous shrub or small tree with dark green leaves and small black berries. Initially introduced as a hedge plant, it has since become invasive.
Impact: Common Buckthorn invades woodlands and shaded areas, forming dense thickets that prevent native plants from growing.
Garden Alternative: American Hazelnut (Corylus americana) - A native shrub that provides valuable habitat and food for wildlife, thriving in shaded environments.
6. Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)
Description: A climbing vine with cascading purple flowers, often planted for its dramatic floral displays.
Impact: Chinese Wisteria aggressively climbs and smothers native trees and shrubs, causing significant ecological damage in shaded environments.
Garden Alternative: American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) - A native vine with similar purple flowers that supports local wildlife and is less aggressive.
7. Periwinkle (Vinca minor and Vinca major)
Description: Evergreen ground covers with glossy leaves and blue or purple flowers, commonly used in shaded gardens.
Impact: Periwinkle spreads aggressively, forming dense mats that overshadow and outcompete native ground covers, reducing biodiversity.
Garden Alternative: Green-and-Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) - A native ground cover with golden-yellow flowers that supports local wildlife and thrives in shaded conditions.
8. Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)
Description: A thorny shrub with bright red berries and small, glossy leaves, often planted for its ornamental appeal.
Impact: Japanese Barberry forms dense thickets in shaded areas, outcompeting native plants and altering soil chemistry, which can negatively affect the surrounding ecosystem.
Garden Alternative: American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) - A native shrub with vibrant purple berries that support wildlife and thrive in shaded conditions.
9. Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
Description: A fast-growing deciduous tree with large, pinnate leaves and small greenish flowers. It’s often planted for its rapid growth and shade tolerance.
Impact: Tree of Heaven spreads aggressively, forming dense stands in shaded areas that outcompete native species and alter ecosystems.
Garden Alternative: Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) - A native tree with pink flowers in spring and heart-shaped leaves, providing shade and supporting local wildlife.
Conclusion
Invasive shade-tolerant plants can significantly impact Oklahoma’s ecosystems by outcompeting native species and altering local habitats. By selecting native, non-invasive alternatives, gardeners can help maintain ecological balance, support local wildlife, and preserve the natural beauty of Oklahoma’s landscapes.
For more information and to connect with other gardening enthusiasts, join our Facebook group: Shade Gardening.
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