Tree of Heaven isn’t just another fast weed — it’s a super-spreader. It shoots up 10–15 feet in a few years, pushes chemicals into the soil that kill off other plants, and spreads underground so one cut stump turns into a whole patch. Worst of all, it’s the primary host for spotted lanternfly. Once lanternflies show up, they cover trees, patios, and cars with sticky honeydew. That honeydew turns into black sooty mold that kills plants, ruins outdoor furniture, and makes sidewalks slick. Lanternflies also suck the life out of grapes, fruit trees, and maples — a threat to farms and backyard gardens alike.

Honeysuckle smells sweet, but it’s a silent killer in the landscape. The vine forms thick ropes that strangle trees and fences, while bush honeysuckles fill in woodlines so nothing native survives. Their shallow roots don’t hold soil the way natives do, which means more erosion on slopes and streambanks. The red berries look attractive to birds, but they’re mostly sugar and water — not the fats and proteins birds need to survive migration. That means more invasive honeysuckle spread, but weaker bird populations. Where honeysuckle takes over, the forest goes quiet: fewer wildflowers, fewer insects, fewer birds.

Ivy might look like groundcover, but it’s one of the most destructive plants in our region. On trees, it climbs and wraps until branches snap under the weight. It blocks light, smothers bark, and can kill mature oaks outright. On buildings, ivy pries into brickwork and siding, holding moisture that rots wood and masonry. On the ground, it forms a dense carpet that suffocates wildflowers and blocks pollinators from the plants they need. Once ivy takes over, you lose songbirds, butterflies, and bees — because the plants they depend on can’t break through.