Jamie, you might want to check out which plants are considered invasives in your area. What may be a great garden plant in one area of the country may be an invasive in your area. Go to www.google.com and put in the search box:
invasive plant + Your State

You can also get information on any recommendations at google. Best to use botanical names or check out common names as several plants can have the same common name. An example is the recommendation of pink clover. Botancially, pink clover - Trifolium repens is NOT knotweed - Persicaria capitata.
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plan...ersicaria.html
http://www.denverplants.com/wflwr/html/trifo_rep.htm

Here's a site where you can check the botanical names of many plants using the common name. Not everything is listed, but it might be helpful.
http://www.mswn.com/Cross%20Index.htm

Newt
Both Vinca minor and Vinca major have escaped into the wild are can be invasive in woodlands, so best to plant where it is contained and can't roam into wild areas.