Five groundcovers flagged by University of Maryland Extension are English ivy, periwinkle, Japanese spurge, creeping Jenny, and bishop’s goutweed. That is a useful caution list, not a scientifically ranked national top five: invasive status and suitable replacements depend on where you garden. Check your state or local invasive-plant guidance before buying, and match any replacement to your site’s light, soil, moisture, and purpose.
Why these groundcovers can become a problem
Groundcovers are meant to fill space, but a plant that spreads by creeping stems or seed can move beyond its intended bed. Before planting, consider how it reproduces, how quickly it may spread, and whether you can manage seedlings or runners outside the area you want covered. University of Maryland Extension advises gardeners to consider local invasive status and whether a plant’s spread will be manageable. Its guidance on groundcovers also cautions against choosing plants that can escape cultivation. University of Maryland Extension: Groundcovers
Maryland’s warnings are not universal legal classifications. Maryland DNR describes invasive species as non-native plants that cause problems such as crowding out native species or changing soil environments; other states may classify or assess plants differently. Use the five plants below as prompts to check local guidance, not as a nationwide ranking.
Which groundcovers should you avoid?
1. English ivy (Hedera helix)
University of Maryland Extension includes English ivy on its groundcovers-to-avoid list. California Department of Fish and Wildlife reports that it can escape gardens through vegetative growth and bird-dispersed seed, spread rapidly, shade and outcompete understory vegetation, and climb trees. The agency warns that mature vines can harm or kill trees and may be costly and labor-intensive to eradicate once established. These documented impacts are California guidance, not a claim that every site in every state will experience the same outcome. University of Maryland Extension: Groundcovers; California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Invasive to Avoid: English Ivy; University of Maryland Extension: English Ivy
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2. Periwinkle (Vinca minor and Vinca major)
Maryland Extension lists both common periwinkle and big periwinkle among groundcovers to avoid, and Maryland DNR also flags periwinkle. California’s more detailed impact account is specifically about big periwinkle (Vinca major): it spreads rapidly, especially in riparian areas, can form thick cover that chokes native plants, and can resprout from stem fragments. Do not assume that this California account applies identically to Vinca minor or to every region. University of Maryland Extension: Groundcovers; Maryland DNR: Ground Covers – Maryland’s Wild Acres; California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Invasive to Avoid: Big Periwinkle
3. Japanese spurge or Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis)
Maryland Extension includes Japanese spurge on its avoid list, and Maryland DNR includes pachysandra in its Maryland invasive-groundcover guidance. The cited guidance establishes those local warnings but does not detail a particular harm mechanism for this species. Check your own state or local list before planting. University of Maryland Extension: Groundcovers; Maryland DNR: Ground Covers – Maryland’s Wild Acres
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4. Creeping Jenny or moneywort (Lysimachia nummularia)
Both Maryland Extension and Maryland DNR flag creeping Jenny as a groundcover to avoid in Maryland. The cited material does not establish a species-specific impact mechanism, so treat the listing as a reason to check local status rather than proof of a particular effect in every garden. University of Maryland Extension: Groundcovers; Maryland DNR: Ground Covers – Maryland’s Wild Acres
5. Bishop’s goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria)
Maryland Extension includes bishop’s goutweed on its groundcovers-to-avoid list. The cited guidance does not provide a detailed impact account for this plant; consult the invasive-plant list for your state or locality before choosing it. University of Maryland Extension: Groundcovers
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How to choose a safer groundcover
There is no single replacement that suits every garden. Start with the job the plant needs to do, then check that the candidate is appropriate for your location and conditions. A plant intended to cover a shady bed may not suit a sunny slope or a lawn-replacement project.
- Region and native status: Check whether the plant is considered invasive where you live, and whether a regionally appropriate native option can do the job.
- Light: Match the selection to the actual sun or shade in the planting area.
- Soil and moisture: Choose for the site’s drainage and moisture rather than assuming a groundcover will tolerate any conditions.
- Coverage through the year: Decide whether you need evergreen coverage or can use a seasonal plant.
- Spread: Understand whether it spreads by runners, rooting stems, or seed, and whether that growth can be contained and managed.
- Purpose: Select for the intended use—such as shade coverage, slope cover, or lawn replacement—rather than just a plant’s appearance.
For regional examples, California Department of Fish and Wildlife suggests alumroot for some shady settings where English ivy might otherwise be used, and Douglas iris as one alternative to big periwinkle. These are California examples, not universal substitutions; verify local suitability and growing conditions. California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Invasive to Avoid: English Ivy; California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Invasive to Avoid: Big Periwinkle
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Maryland Extension’s list also includes other plants, such as carpet bugleweed, lily-of-the-valley, and yellow archangel. The five here are selections, not an exhaustive list of groundcovers to investigate. For lawn-reduction projects, Extension likewise advises avoiding invasive groundcovers. University of Maryland Extension: Lawn Alternatives
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Already have one? Treat removal as species- and site-specific
Removal methods differ by plant and infestation. California guidance says small big-periwinkle infestations may be removed manually only if every stem and root fragment is removed; larger infestations may require herbicide. University of Maryland Extension describes smothering invasive vines and groundcovers with cardboard, newspaper, or plastic plus mulch as a control approach. Check local guidance before acting, and follow all product-label directions if using an herbicide. California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Invasive to Avoid: Big Periwinkle; University of Maryland Extension: Invasive Vine and Groundcover Control
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