Exotic & Invasive Plants

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Since the first European explorers made their way to its shores, Florida has acquired approximately 1,300 imported plant species which having found their way into the natural landscape are now existing and reproducing apart from cultivation.

Initially most were brought here as food sources with early settlers, some were introduced by collectors as specimens and in more recent times many were, and still are being used for decorative landscaping. Other species arrived here as stowaway's - seeds hidden among imported shipments of other goods from around the world.

The problem exotic plants are the ones considered "invasive", a lack of naturally occurring controlling factors such as disease or insect pests combined with the fact that in their native land they must often be very aggressive growers just to survive can give them enough of an advantage to outgrow and overwhelm Florida's native species.

Invasive exotics plant species are one of the greatest threat to Florida's indigenous plant species and natural ecosystems, surpassed only by habitat destruction through careless development.

Once established they are very difficult to eradicate and displace the plants which the native herbivores (plant eating animals) depend upon as food sources which consequently leave the infested area in search of an alternate food source & habitat.

These displaced plant eaters are prey animals for the predatory species, Hawks, Eagles, Foxes, Bobcats and the magnificent Florida Panther all depend on them for food, so they in turn are also forced out of the area leaving a landscape barren of life except for the noxious invasive plant that began the cycle.

Exotic and invasive plants are divided into two classifications * In Florida there are 67 Category One plants that are causing ecological damage to native plant communities and 71 Category Two plants that are spreading and increasing in range but have not yet caused ecological damage.*

*Source* - current listed species of exotic and invasive plants in Florida can be found at the FLEPPC website -  * Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council.

How to help ...

Residents can help stop the spread of damaging exotics and aid in the preservation of Florida's unique biodiversity. The best practice is not to introduce known invasive or potentially invasive plants into home landscaping, substituting instead native species where possible and limiting the use of exotics to those that are not invasive.

Identifying and removing existing invasive plants from your property prevents the spread of seeds into the wild by birds or other animals and the wind.

Joining a local chapter of a conservation group such as the Florida chapter of the Audubon Society or Sierra Club provides a means of voicing concern as a group to local, state and federal government.

Related web sites

Florida Native Plant Society - http://www.fnps.org/

The National Audubon Society -  http://www.audubon.org/

Florida State Parks - http://www.floridastateparks.org/

Sierra Club, Florida Chapter -  http://www.sierraclub.org/fl/

The Florida Native Plant Society - http://www.fnps.org/

Click pictures to see full sized images

Pictures - Brazilian Peppertree fruit, flowers.

Name - Brazilian Pepper Tree, Brazilian Holly, Florida Pepper Tree

(Schinus terebinthifolius)

Category 1 Invasive

Family - Anacardiaceae

Description - Perennial shrub or small tree up to 40 feet in height, forms dense thickets of tangled branches and stems. Originally introduced as an ornamental the "Florida Peppertree" as it is often referred to, is a major problem in Florida.

Produces chemical compounds which suppress native species growth. Very aggressive invader of many habitats, estimated to occupy over 700,000 acres in central and southern Florida. Leaves have a "peppery" smell when crushed. Sap is a irritant similar to that of Poison Ivy to which it is related. Smoke from burning wood is also toxic.

Pictures - Melaleuca trees with inset of leaf detail, dense thicket typical of Melaleuca in a wetland habitat.

Name - Broad-leaved Paperbark, Papertree, Punk tree

(Melaleuca quinquenervia)

Category 1 Invasive

Family - Myrtaceae (Myrtle family)

Habitat- Prefers seasonally flooded areas but also grows in upland habitats.

Description - Category 1 Invasive specie. Height 80 to 100 feet with slender crown, leaves are 4-5 inches long, lance shaped grey-green in color produce a camphor-like smell when crushed. Yellowish-white flowers are produced on bottle brush shaped spikes to 6 inches long, followed by clusters of 3/8 inch round or cylindrical woody capsules

Seeds were intentionally scattered by air over the Everglades in the 1930's with the idea being to help dry out swamps, it is now a major pest in south Florida, particularly in wetland habitats. This fast growing (3-6 feet a year) Australian native forms very dense stands, crowding out all other plants.

Picture - Lantana in bloom

Name - Lantana, Shrub verbena (Lantana camara)

Category 1 Invasive

Family - Verbenaceae (Verbena family)

Description - Perennial, Deciduous. Shrub/Vine.
Height up to and over 6 feet with multiple square stems. Similar in appearance to the endemic native Lantana species (Lantana depressa Small), the native has tapered or crenate leaf bases whereas the exotic species has a squared off or truncate leaf base.

Leaves are aromatic when bruised or crushed, small flowers are held in dense flat topped clusters and may be white, pink, lavender, yellow, orange to red in a single cluster, changing color over time.

Fruit is a small green round drupe, turning purple and then blue-black. Poisonous. Long touted as a low maintenance landscape plant, now widespread in various habitats where it has interbred with native lantana species.

Picture - Earleafed Acacia with seed pods.

Name - Earleafed Acacia (Acacia auriculiformis)

Category 1 Invasive

Family - Fabaceae (Leguminosae)/Pea Family

Description - Compact tree to 50 feet in height, evergreen, commonly with multiple stems. Leaves are simple, alternate, 5-8 inches long and dark green with flattened stalks. Flowers are yellow-orange in spikes at leaf axis and clusters of spikes at tips of stems. Fruit is a flat oblong pod which twists as it matures giving it a unique, distinctive appearance.

Commonly used for street landscaping in Florida for many years since it's introduction as an ornamental. Now found in pinelands, scrubs, hammocks and disturbed areas.

Picture - Tropical Soda Apple with inset of fruit.

Name - Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum Dunal)

Category 1 Invasive

Family - Solanaceae (Nightshade)

Description - Perennial. Height to 6 feet, more common at 3 ft. or less. First discovered in Florida in 1988, has since spread to over 500,000 acres statewide. Easily identified by prickles/thorns on stems and leaves. Fruit a globose berry, 0.8-1.2 inch wide, fruit is green with darker veins and looks like a miniature watermelon, turning a dull yellow. Poisonous.

Pictures - Old World climbing fern covering native vegetation.

Name - Old World climbing fern (Lygodium japonicum)

Category - Category 1 Invasive

Family - Lygodiaceae (Climbing fern family)

Description - Perennial. Forb/Herb. Climbing with specially modified stem-like fronds 90 to 100 feet in length allow this Australian native to grow into the forest canopy, shading out even mature trees. This also allows normally beneficial ground fires to reach the tree tops and become destructive, tree killing crown fires.

Leafy branches off of main frond 2 to 5 inches long, produce two types of leaflets, one is a vegetative type of growth, the second is a spore producing type of leaflet which is common to ferns.

Picture - Beach Naupaka in bloom

Name - Beach naupaka, Hawaiian half-flower, Hailstones

(Scaevola plumieri)

Category - Category 1 Invasive

Family - Goodeniaceae

Description - Large, bushy shrub to 16 ft. tall, commonly forming dense mounds. Flowers are white to pale lilac in short clusters at leaf axils, fruit is a green fleshy drupe.

Common to dunes, coastal hammocks and estuary shorelines. Once promoted for use in beach stabilization projects, now displaces native species.

Pictures - Mexican Petunia flower

Name - Britton's Wild Petunia, Mexican Petunia. (Ruellia brittoniana)

Category 1 Invasive

Family - Acanthaceae

Description - Widely used a landscape plant, herbaceous perennial. Height to 3 feet, Trumpet shaped lavender flowers that are 1-1/4'' to 1-1/2'' across.

Pictures - Shoebutton Ardisia showing characteristic new red leaves.

Name - Shoebutton Ardisia (Ardisia elliptica)

Category 1 Invasive

Family - Myrsinaceae

Habitat - Wet Flatwoods, Bottomland Forest, moist sites.

Description - Evergreen shrub or small tree to 17 feet with smooth stems. New growth usually reddish. Leaves alternate, leathery, oblong to oval with entire margins, up to 8 inches long.

Flower - Mauve, star shaped, 1/2 inch across, borne in axillary clusters. Fruit is a small rounded black drupe. Distinguished from native Marlberry by reddish new growth and flowers, which are at leaf axils rather than terminal cluster as with the native tree which also has white flowers.

Pictures - Chinese Tallow tree, leaf close-up

Name - Chinese Tallow Tree, Popcorn Tree (Sapium sebiferum L.)

Family - Euphorbiaceae

Habitat - Commonly found in wet areas - Bottomland forests, freshwater swamps and margins of rivers, lakes, ponds, creeks, and ditch banks. Also grows in drier upland habitats.

Description - Introduced, category 1 invasive exotic. Fast growing deciduous perennial tree, 30 to 50 feet. Widely used in landscaping. Leaves are alternate with entire margins, broadly ovate with acuminate apices.

Flower - Small yellow flowers on spikes to near 8 inches long. Fruit is a waxy three lobed capsule 1/2 inch in diameter.

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