5 plants in your garden that can devalue your home and cost you money

Daily Record

23-05-2025

The presence of these plants could cause issues when it comes to selling up
A great garden is a real bonus when it comes to selling your house. Studies have shown that a well-maintained space outside can add between 10 and 20 per cent to your property's value and can see it selling faster too.
But there are some plants that homeowners need to be careful keeping, as the mere presence of them in the garden can have the opposite effect. Invasive plant specialists say there are five plants which can devalue your house and make it more difficult to sell on.
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That's because these seemingly-innocent plants can wreak havoc on your garden, your neighbour's garden, and even your actual house if left unchecked.
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One couple had to demolish their conservatory when they noticed leaves sprouting from the floor of the threshold between the extension and the main house.
On closer inspection it was found to be a 'running' variety of bamboo which had spread from a neighbour's garden. It was found under the concrete floors of the conservatory, growing inside the cavity walls and even extending into the brickwork of their home.
Specialists at Environet, which deal with the removal of invasive plant species, said they are receiving significantly more calls about bamboo infestations than they do about Japanese Knotweed. In many cases they said, the damage to property is far greater too.
Emily Grant, Director of invasive plant specialist Environet has warned that there are five plants which could impact your home's value.
1. Japanese Knotweed
The most invasive non-native plant in the UK, Japanese knotweed can cause extensive damage to properties over time, pushing up through paths, patios, driveways, cracks in concrete and underground pipes.
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Environet estimates knotweed affects 4-5 per cent of homes in the UK, either directly or indirectly (neighbouring an affected property), equating to around a million households.
Sellers are legally obliged to declare if they have knotweed when they sell a property via a Home Report.
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Emily said: "In most cases having Japanese knotweed on a property will make it more difficult to sell, not only because of the risk of damage to the house or garden, but also because there's still such a stigma around the plant.
"Our research shows the vast majority of buyers will expect some kind of discount to reflect the cost of treatment and because the property is inevitably seen as less desirable than another which is knotweed-free.
"The impact on value will depend on the size and maturity of the infestation and how close it is to the property, but a reduction of 5 – 10% is fairly typical.'
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2. Bamboo
Bamboo is popular for its elegance and hardiness, and as a natural screen in overlooked gardens, but has the potential to cause more damage than knotweed due to the speed and distance it can spread.
Running varieties, which are the most problematic, send long lateral rhizomes or 'runners' extending out horizontally from the parent plant, with shoots popping up in new locations up to 10 metres away - often in the neighbouring gardens.
Emily said: "We're receiving significantly more calls about bamboo infestations than Japanese knotweed these days, and in most cases the damage caused to property is far greater.
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"There was a particular craze for bamboo around 15 - 20 years ago and where it's been planted into the ground rather than in a pot, those plants are now fully mature and causing havoc.
'In my view, bamboo is at least as destructive as Japanese knotweed, due to the remarkable rate at which the runners grow, enabling it to spread and cause damage more quickly.
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"We've seen it growing out of living room skirting boards, kitchen floors and even sprouting out from behind an oven. In most cases the only way to deal with it once it's found its way into a building is to dig up the floor and remove every rhizome."
'"Surveyors are flagging the issue up much more frequently on property surveys. If bamboo is present on a property you want to buy, or on the boundary, it's a good idea to get a bamboo survey so you understand any risk you're taking on and ensure there's no chance of a legal claim against you.'
3. Buddleia
Buddleia, otherwise known as Butterfly Bush, was introduced from China in the late 1800s and is loved for its purple nectar-rich flowers which attract pollinators to the garden.
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However, it can be very invasive, with just one plant producing over a million seeds per year. Its roots require little soil, meaning will grow happily almost anywhere including in walls, chimneys and guttering.
The roots and stems grow rapidly and if not removed quickly, the rapid expansion of woody growth can cause damage which is costly to repair, such as cracks in walls, damage to render and damp inside the property.
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"Buddleia loves to grow in cracks in walls and in masonry, paving and gutters – anywhere that it can take hold," said Emily.
"If you spot it, remove it quickly before it causes serious damage. If it a property is badly impacted by buddleia, it will be flagged up a surveyor when you come to sell which could reduce the property's value."
4. Virginia Creeper
Virginia Creeper is a fast-growing vine which can take over large areas in just one growing season. It spreads by seeds, rooting stems and via vigorous growth using tendrils and disk-like suckers that cling onto structures, blocking air vents, trapping moisture against surfaces and in the worst cases contributing to damp and mould inside.
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It's difficult to remove due to its deep roots and the fact it can regenerate from small fragments which are accidentally left behind.
Emily added: "Virginia Creeper can be controlled but it does require a vigilance and effort. It should be cut back regularly throughout the growing season to contain it, paying particular attention to new shoots spreading in new directions – especially if it's growing directly up a building rather than a fence or trellis.'
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5. Ivy
Ivy is much loved by gardeners across the UK and it isn't usually a problem, as long as it's kept in check. If it's allowed to run riot its powerful adventitious (aerial) roots can damage brickwork, lift roof tiles, pull gutters away from walls and block light from windows.
When it rains, moisture can seep into the brickwork and the ivy will prevent it from drying easily, potentially leading to damp and mould.
"Ivy only causes problems if it's not restrained with regular pruning," said Emily.
"Once it's very established, its roots can become deeply embedded in the wall or roof it's growing up and it can be difficult to remove it without causing damage. It's best to tackle the plant in autumn or winter when it isn't actively growing.'