Invasive aliens include plants that are not native and were either brought to this country for a purpose or, in some cases, came here by accident. They are also referred to as exotic or non-indigenous. Alien plants have played an important role in agriculture, landscaping, and soil stabilization. While most aliens do not persist in the wild, those that do sometimes become aggressive and spread rapidly, crowding out desirable native species. One way to control or prevent plants from spreading is to find a use for them.