Should All Invasives Be Removed From Garden

Question

I have several plants which have been identified as invasive – trumpet vine, gooseneck loosestrife, and sweet woodruff to name a few. I keep them in check but should I remove them completely from the garden?

Answer 1

If they are invasive and you keep them in check, you don't need to remove them. If, however, they are branded a noxious weed in your area and are displacing the native flora, it would be beneficial to the environment to remove them. None of yours mentioned are on the exotic weed list for Illinois. Trumpet creeper is considered aggressive, but not necessarily invasive.

https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/invasive_plant_species_regulated_by_the_illinois_exotic_weed_act.pdf

https://www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/resource-library/plant-week/gooseneck-loosestrife-7-2-09.aspx

https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/trees/plants/trumpet_creeper.htm

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/sweet-woodruff-galium-odorata/