Readers Respond: Which Plants Do You Hate the Most?

I must admit I'm uncomfortable asking, What plants do you hate the most? I'm more likely to ask you to pick the best trees, etc. I'm such a plant-lover at heart that I have trouble bringing myself to hate any plant, even most weeds.

I make an exception for Japanese knotweed, the hated menace I've dubbed "Godzilla weed": It's in a class all by itself. Besides, I'll pose a query later about weeds and invasive plants; what I'm interested in here is the most hated landscape plants.

The most-hated plants are often those that are "overused" or gaudy; please state your own reasons for hating whichever plants you name.

STINK Tree, Ailanthus Altissima -- Ugh!

I abhor Ailanthus altissima. It has all but taken over my small side yard, casting flower beds in shadow by early summer. We have cut and pulled and sawed down this beast, only to be cursed with these foul beasts, some of which reach the second story of my house. They leap overnight! HELP!

—Guest Deborah

Pygmy Palms

Nearly poked an eye out while pruning one. When new leaves sprout, they are curled up tightly and are very similar to long spikes. Wear heavy canvas clothing, leather gloves and goggles when handling this plant!!

—abateau1

Landscape Plants I Hate

In this part of Michigan, landscapers and homeowners are fixated on Bradford Pears and Stella D'Oro daylilies. It's so boring to have the same tree everywhere. They break easily and seem to have missing branches a lot, and they stink when blooming. So many beautiful cultivars of daylilies and all they plant is that one. Touted as not needing deadheading, so they hang with hundreds of wet kleenex all summer.

—chunkycrone

Creeping Charlie

We have a back yard and even into our organic garden with huge patches of creeping Charlie -- it is the bane of my existence!! How how how to get rid of it?! Have rejected chemicals and poisons trying to eliminate it more organically, but it keeps growing and spreading. Help!

—Guest Lynne

The One I Can't Get Rid Of

I can't believe nobody has said liriope! No matter how hard I try, it keeps coming back again and again. And the ones I DID keep just keep spreading!

—Guest kcortez

Pesky Plants

Ornithogalum bulbs, Crocosmia and bluebells. Plus Lamium galeobdolon. Totally agree about Agapanthus and privet. And ornamental bamboo.

—gritty.mix

Gooseneck Loosestrife

A "friend" gave me gooseneck loosestrife -- a few tiny pieces -- and within 5 years I have it in a 20x20 foot radius. It grows from underground runners and is impossible to completely dig up! So if a "friend" or foe offers you some, back away and run!!

—Guest Perennial keeper

I Hate Crepe Myrtle (Crape Myrtle)

I am on the board of my home owner's association and wanted to plant native trees around the neighborhood. Unfortunately one person insisted on planting more crepe myrtles. In fact, so did people 10-20 years ago when the houses were built. And consistently for many following years. They are EVERYWHERE. They take over ALL THE SOIL so NOTHING SUBSTANTIAL CAN GROW there and if you try and plant something by digging a hole they immediately take over the space with their roots. They are NOT NATIVE TO THE US and CONTRIBUTE NOTHING TO THE ECOSYSTEM. They look OK, but I don't like them when they are EVERYWHERE and drop sappy flowers that EAT THROUGH THE PAINT ON THE HOOD OF MY CAR and now I have damage to my car and CAN'T PARK IN MY OWN PARKING SPACE. Meanwhile, the TWO in my yard have spread roots EVERYWHERE and SHADED OUT EVERYTHING so NOTHING ELSE CAN GROW IN MY YARD, while being too short to provide shade to my second story window. STOP PLANTING THESE; PLANT SOMETHING NATIVE. -USA

—Guest Anonymous

I Hate Plants That Choke Others

I hat morning glories because they reseed and choke out all other garden plants.

—Guest martha

HATE TAKE-OVERS

I HATE Virginia creeper, Pachysandra, wild morning glories and the infamous lily of the valley. These 4 have taken over just about everything here. I pull, pull, pull only to find a few more days these things are BACK and it seems with a vengeance!! Seems no matter what you do, including use WEED KILLER, it just will NOT go away.

—Guest Adrienne

Cottonweed

Yep, I know, it is really cottonwood, but it is the most obnoxious tree ever! The drippy spring sap that is impossible to get off one's car or shoes, the horrid pods and "snow" they cause--you can't rake them, mow them, vacuum them. Only pick by hand--one summer, I picked 14,000 up from the yard from one tree alone! Invasive snaky roots are like rats--impossible to eradicate. And, they rot and fall over! I will say, the sap can be made into an incredible anti-inflammatory "Balm of Gilead." But, they are NASTY! Oh, also hate clover in my gardens.... V. Difficult to weed w/success...

—rebeldivine

Plant I Hate

I hate Forsythia. 1 week of bloom and then prune every three weeks. It makes a better garbage can than a hedge - collecting every piece of trash that blows in. If you want an early indicator that Spring is here try a witch hazel. At least the leaves show some interest year round.

—Guest Patrick

I Hate Anything With Thorns

I don't like barberry, roses or anything with thorns. I'll work with others' roses in their yards but I don't like getting ripped up. I prefer to grow food. I also don't like the grass with roots to China -- don't know if that is a weed or not. The idiots that put our sidewalks in spread that crap all over town.

—Guest farmer fanny

I Hate This Thorny Leaf-Catcher

Dwarf barberries are nasty to prune or step on a clipping while barefoot. They capture and imprison leaves. The tiny red fruit capsules attract birds, however the birds spread the seeds and they are considered invasive in many areas.

—Guest Roger L. VanNostrand

Palm Trees UGH!

The ubiquitous (at least in southern California) palm tree seeds everywhere! It is ugly, a terrible weed, and when it grows, draws rats like crazy!

—Guest Judy