5 of the most destructive garden plants in the UK – and how to tackle them

Invasive plant species are more than just an annoyance, these weeds can do structural damage to your home (causing its value to plummet) and harm indigenous wildlife in your garden like worms, bees and frogs.

Expert gardeners at online retailer BillyOh.com have rounded up the worst offenders – some of which are so hard to regulate they're actually illegal to plant in the UK.

"For most people, thoughts of destructive, nuisance plants instantly conjures up images of deep jungles and exotic forests abroad – but surprisingly, the UK is home to a fair few damaging flowers, shrubs and weeds too," a Billyoh spokesperson says.

“Some are capable of destroying entire habitats if left untreated, whilst others can also produce a nasty sap that can irritate and burn human skin. Where possible, controlling these nuisance weeds should be done using non-chemical means such as digging out or suppressing with mulch. But quite often these methods are not feasible or effective, and so chemical controls may need to be used."

Here, the top five destructive plants you should watch out for in your garden. And it goes without saying that you should always a consult a professional for advice before tackling them yourself.