Homeowner warned after sharing photos of mystery plants taking over backyard: 'They are prolific'

A homeowner in upstate New York turned to Reddit for help after discovering five different bushes in their backyard all seemed to look alike.

The pics, posted in the r/invasivespecies subreddit, show various leafy shrubs, with several showing the tell-tale signs of their color changing to a fiery red. The post asked, "Are all these burning bush?"

Commenters positively identified the culprit as burning bush, an ornamental shrub once popular in landscaping but now banned or restricted in multiple states because of how aggressively it spreads. The shrub's dense growth and distinctive red fall color may seem charming, but commenters were quick to share tips on getting rid of this stubborn invader.

"Looks like it! NY has so much. No need to spray, just prune it back a few years in a row and it will die," one advised. 

The OP responded, "Bummer. But I've always hated the way they look so all the more reason to get rid of them next year."

Burning bush crowds out native plants and spreads quickly with the assistance of birds, who eat the fruits, helping to disperse the seeds.

For homeowners, invasive plants like this cause major headaches. Not only are they a nightmare to get rid of, but they also outcompete the plants you really want to grow in your yard. And, by disrupting an area's natural biodiversity, there are rippling consequences — from degrading soil quality to harming the animals and insects that depend on other plant species.

Replacing invasives with native plants is not only safer for local ecosystems but also saves you time and money on yard maintenance. Native species typically require less watering and fewer fertilizers, which can lower your bills and reduce the amount of toxic compounds running off into water sources. Plus, native gardens help support pollinators, which strengthens our food supply.

Homeowners looking for easy, eco-friendly alternatives have plenty of options, including rewilding their yards with mixed native meadows, low-maintenance clover, hardy buffalo grass, and xeriscaping designs that work with minimal water. Even partial lawn replacements can offer great benefits for gardeners.

Commenters chimed in with their takes on the yard situation.

What's the hardest thing about taking care of your yard? Mowing the lawn 🏡 Controlling weeds 🌿 Keeping pests at bay 🐿️ I don't have a yard 🤷 Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

One said, "Yes they are, one of my hated perennial shrubs in the nursery business."

Another added, "Try to pull them by the roots if you can, they are prolific root sprouters. A pickaxe works well for this. I've pulled hundreds of them with one."

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