The first year one grows sweet autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora)?in the yard, it can seem like a pretty sweet choice. Puffy floral clouds emerge from the mass of vines in fall, lighting up the fence, arbor, or stone wall. It will turn heads in the neighborhood, and you’ll be sad when the blooms wave good-bye. Then reality settles in during the next year. And the next after that. And…well, let’s just say for an indeterminate period of time.
Sweet autumn clematis self-seeds, dropping a number of seeds in nearby soil, allowing it to spread all over the place. It will self-seed where you least expect it to, the seedlings lurking under the dense foliage of some shrub until you finally discover it one day while inspecting your garden. This game of hide-and-seek will take years to play itself out.
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Trumpet Vines
You won’t necessarily find trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) on lists of invasive plants. It is a North American native, and it’s typically exotic plants that make their way onto such lists. But a plant needn’t be classified as “invasive” in order to be aggressive. Trumpet vine is, in fact, a very aggressive spreader.
Nor is it alone in this regard. Another vine not classified as invasive in North America (where it’s a native) but that is overly aggressive for small yards is Virginia creeper. There’s another disincentive to growing the latter: it can give some people a rash (thus it doubles as a noxious plant).
I am a keen gardener and so created Garden Pics and Tips for people who love gardens and enjoy great pictures of plants and gardens. Also covered are practical tips on all aspects of gardening.
