A number of invasive foreign plants and animals could be banned in the UK because they present a threat to British wildlife, according to reports.

The government now says that plants such as the floating pennywort, the water hyacinth and Japanese knotweed are strongly invasive and could endanger the natural habitat if they are allowed to spread.

Creatures including the American bullfrog and some types of crayfish are also considered a danger.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) claims that the spread of non-native invasive species is the second greatest threat to wildlife after habitat destruction, reports Gardening Which?

As well as enforcing a ban on some plants, other species including the rosy–faced lovebird, grass carp, water fern and Virginia creeper could also be added to a list of those which can be released into the wild only under licence.

Editor of Gardening Which? Ceri Thomas said: "It's a serious issue that gardeners must be made aware of.

"The UK's climate lets us enjoy growing a huge range of plants from different countries but we must be responsible with the plants that are now proving a danger to our native flora."

For a guide to the UK's most popular plants, visit Plant Finder.