10 High-Maintenance and Invasive Plants to Avoid

Although showstopping and brimming with colorful blooms, trumpet vine's cons often outweigh its pros. This woody plant is very aggressive and is considered invasive in some regions. As its beautiful flowers fade, they produce large seed pods which, as they dry and split, drop hundreds of seeds. The vine will grow and latch on to anything in sight, so it requires substantial support and regular maintenance.

Bamboo may look like a pretty, peaceful addition to the garden, but don't let that fool you. Once established, bamboo can be impossible to control. It shoots up very quickly and constantly — some varieties grow upward of 3 feet a day. Beware when trying to create a barrier for the plant, as it isn't even deterred by concrete. It's best to keep bamboo in a container to better control its invasive nature.

With its charming dark-green leaves, English ivy is often used in gardens to cover shady ground area or to twist up and around outdoor structures. But before planting, know that is very hard to get rid of once in the ground and is considered invasive in some regions. The vigorous foliage will climb over many surfaces and keep coming back for years.

Native to Africa, fountain grass is a wide-variety plant that bears beautiful, multi-hued plumes. The downside, however, is its vigorously invasive nature. This ornamental grass crowds out neighboring plants and also produces an abundance of spreading seedlings. It's known to fuel wildfires with its dead foliage, so be careful when and where you plant it.