There is a growing list of invasive species in Alabama that you should not plant on your property. No matter how diligent you are, these plants will spread into wild areas (including preserves and parks) disrupting the ecological balance and causing species extinctions. If you have any of these plants on your property, please do what any good gardener does, and kill the weeds. Most of these plants have their origins in the horticultural trade and many of them (such as Nandina, Privet, Mahonia, English Ivy and Vinca and Wintercreeper) are still commonly sold to unwitting customers.
For a full listing of invasive species in Alabama, see the Invasive Plant Atlas published by the Alabama Invasive Plant Council. Useful information about the identification and control of these plants can be found on the Cooperative Extension’s website. The local Cooperative Extension office offers workshops throughout the year to train land owners in control and removal techniques.
Native alternatives
As we learn more about the ecological harms inflicted by invasive species, there are increasing efforts to find native plant substitutes for those invasive species originally cherished for their ornamental merits. While there is not currently (to our knowledge) a similar list for Alabama, specifically, the list for Tennessee is appropriate for North Alabama and is a great starting point for fresh ideas. Keep in mind there may be additional native alternatives not fully covered in this list, and if you have had success with any of them, please let us know!