Invasive Shade-Tolerant Garden Plants in Kansas

Kansas’s natural landscapes, including its woodlands and riparian areas, are vulnerable to invasive plants that thrive in shaded conditions. These invasive species can spread rapidly, outcompeting native plants and disrupting local ecosystems. Understanding which plants are invasive and selecting native alternatives is essential for preserving Kansas’s ecological balance and maintaining the beauty of its natural habitats.

Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

List of Invasive Shade-Tolerant Garden Plants in Kansas

1. Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortune)

• Description: Wintercreeper is an evergreen vine or ground cover with glossy, dark green leaves. It is often used for erosion control and ground cover in shaded areas.

• Impact: It spreads aggressively, forming dense mats that smother native plants and reduce biodiversity in forests and shaded environments.

• Garden Alternative: Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) - A native ground cover with heart-shaped leaves that thrives in shade and supports local ecosystems.

2. Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

• Description: Japanese Honeysuckle is a fast-growing, semi-evergreen vine with fragrant white to yellow flowers. It is commonly planted for its ornamental value.

• Impact: This vine forms dense mats that can suffocate native plants, leading to reduced biodiversity and disrupted habitats in shaded areas.

• Garden Alternative: Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) - A native vine with tubular red flowers that attract hummingbirds and thrive in shaded conditions without becoming invasive.

3. Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)

• Description: Callery Pear is a deciduous tree with white spring blossoms and glossy green leaves. It’s often planted for its ornamental value.

• Impact: It 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.

4. Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii)

• Description: Amur Honeysuckle is a deciduous shrub with white to yellow flowers and red berries. It is often used for its rapid growth and ornamental appearance.

• Impact: This shrub forms dense thickets that displace native plants, particularly in shaded areas, disrupting local ecosystems.

• Garden Alternative: Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) - A native shrub with attractive foliage and flowers that support local wildlife and thrives in shaded areas.

5. Sericea Lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata)

• Description: Sericea Lespedeza is a perennial herb with three-parted leaves and small white or yellow flowers. It’s often used for erosion control but has become invasive.

• Impact: It forms dense stands in shaded and open areas, outcompeting native vegetation and reducing biodiversity.

• Garden Alternative: Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea) - A native perennial that provides similar benefits in erosion control while supporting pollinators and native ecosystems.

6. Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)

• Description: Japanese Barberry is a small, thorny shrub with bright red berries and small, glossy leaves. It is often used for ornamental purposes.

• Impact: It creates dense thickets in shaded areas, crowding out native plants and altering soil chemistry, negatively affecting the surrounding ecosystem.

• Garden Alternative: American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) - A native shrub with bright purple berries that supports wildlife and thrives in shaded areas without becoming invasive.

Conclusion

Invasive shade-tolerant plants can significantly impact Kansas’s ecosystems by outcompeting native species and disrupting natural habitats. Choosing native, noninvasive alternatives helps maintain the ecological balance, support local wildlife, and preserve the state's natural beauty.

For more information and to connect with other gardening enthusiasts, join our Facebook group: Shade Gardening.