15 Plants You Should Never Use for Curb Appeal

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The first impression of a home can ride or die on curb appeal. It’s easy to be tempted by striking colors or interesting shapes, but not all plants are a good fit for that coveted curbside charm. If left untrimmed, they may become too large, invading the space of other plants or attracting pests that will detract from your home’s exterior appeal.

If you’re new to gardening or a seasoned pro, you’ve got to know which plants could be more trouble than they’re worth. To spare you of the disappointment of choosing the incorrect greenery, here are 15 plants that you should think twice about before introducing them to your yard’s decor.

Bamboo

While you might envision bamboo in a peaceful, tropical retreat, in your yard it’s more likely to create a battle for space. Bamboo is extremely fast growing, and can become invasive, spreading to places you may not want it to go. Bamboo is even charming at first, but it can take over your garden and it’s difficult to control. If left unchecked, before long, you’ll have a jungle, not a garden.

Privet

Photo Credit: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz/Wikimedia Commons

Privet hedges are a common way to create privacy, but they are also extremely invasive. Privet once established can expand into other yards and natural areas from where it can replace native plants. While this hedge can be an attractive option in terms of creating a boundary, this is really not a good long term option for curb appeal due to the invasive nature of the plant.

Mint

While mint might be great in your kitchen, it’s a whole different story in your garden. This herb spreads quickly by underground runners, and before you know it, it has taken over your yard. Mint’s aggressive nature means it’s best kept confined to pots or containers, but it’s nice to have a few sprigs for your mojitos.

Mulberry Trees

Worst Trees to Put in Your Yard, Ranked in Order — Photo Credit: Brittany Corley/ Pexels

Mulberry trees can create shade and give you berries, but they have their own problems. Their roots will invade water pipes and they can cause lots of damage to underground infrastructure. The mess that fallen mulberry fruit can make can also attract insects and stain driveways or walkways. Mulberries are more hassle than they’re worth if you want a clean, low maintenance yard.

Silver Maple

The silver maple is also a fast grower, and also a source of many problems. It has shallow roots that tend to invade lawns and damage driveways or sidewalks. These trees are also prone to breaking in storms and are a risk to your property. The silver maple is best avoided unless you’re ready to deal with root issues and potential storm damage.

Bradford Pear

The Bradford pear is notorious for its rapid growth and showy spring time blooms, but it has a short lifespan and weak branches, making it a terrible investment. These trees tend to split and break in storms, leaving unsightly damage in your yard. They’re popular, but they tend to need removal and replacement sooner than expected.

Russian Olive

Photo Credit:Robert Flogaus-Faust/Wikimedia Commons

While the Russian olive tree has silvery leaves and yellow flowers that may make it seem exotic, it’s listed as an invasive species in many places. By depleting soil nutrients and out competing native plants—including many other state protected species— this tree leaves very little room for other species to grow. It’s also not a pleasant plant to deal with, as its thorny branches make it a poor choice for curb appeal, and it’s aggressive nature makes it a poor choice for curb appeal.

Oleander

Oleander may have bright, showy flowers, but it comes with a significant downside: it’s highly toxic. All parts of the plant are poisonous, so it’s a danger for households with pets or young children. Oleander is one flower you don’t want in your family friendly garden, even though it is beautiful.

Weeping Willow

Weeping willows are beautiful with long flowing branches and a very tranquil look but they are a very expensive trade. These trees require a lot of water and have a good sized root system that can get into plumbing and irrigation systems. A weeping willow will only work if you have a large water source and a spacious yard; otherwise, it will be more trouble than its worth.

Chinese Tallow Tree

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The Chinese tallow tree might look innocent enough, but it’s known for being a ravenous spreader and outcompeting native vegetation. Due to its aggressive nature it has been classified as invasive in many areas. Its leaves and seeds are toxic to some animals, and beyond that, could pose a risk to local wildlife. It’s a pretty tree, but it’s not a good fit for a healthy ecosystem.

Juniper

Hardy and easy to grow, junipers can become a fire hazard in dry climates. They are so flammable because of their resinous leaves and branches, more so when the drought strikes. If you live in a wildfire prone area, junipers can add to the risk to your property. If you’re worried about safety, choose fire resistant plants.

Japanese Barberry

Photo Credit: Agnieszka Kwiecien, Nova/Wikimedia Commons

Japanese barberry may be a dense, compact hedge, but don’t be fooled. Ticks, carriers of Lyme disease, are attracted to this plant like a magnet. It not only is bad for your garden, it’s bad for your family and pets too. If you don’t want unwanted pests, avoid Japanese barberry.

English Ivy

a close up of a plant — Photo Credit: Pexels

While English ivy may add an old-world charm to your home, this fast climbing vine can do a number on your property. This plant aggressively latches on to walls, fences, and trees and over time it will cause structural damage. English ivy will smother other plants and take over your garden if left to its own devices. This is one plant you should skip if you don’t want to spend your weekends constantly trimming.

Norway Maple

Photo Credit: Martin Bobka/ Wikimedia Commons

The Norway maple may appear to be an ideal choice, as it is hardy and has great fall color, but this tree is a bully. The canopy is such that it prevents light from reaching the other plants and stifling their growth. Another problem is that it gets its roots hogs water and nutrients. If you are expecting a garden with all sorts of plants to live harmoniously with each other, the Norway maple will be a spoiler.

Wisteria

The beauty of blooming hangs of purple wisteria is the epitome of romance, but beware: it’s thorns are strong and will mercilessly pierce your fingers if you’re not careful. This is a powerful vine and once it gets a hold of itself it is difficult to control. If you aren’t careful, wisteria can easily overwhelm fences, trees and even your home. Wisteria is best left off your planting list if you’re not ready for constant pruning and maintenance.

Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.