Spotting Invaders

There are many invasive species but some are more prevalent than others. Some of the worst are Brazilian Peppertree, Old World Climbing Fern, Water Hyacinth, and Lantana. The majority of these were originally introduced into Florida for their ornamental value. However, these species then spread past gardens and into the ecosystem where they wreck havoc on local species.

Brazilian Climbing Tree

Schinus Terebinthifolia

This small tree was first introduced to Florida some time before 1891. It is typically about 10-30 feet tall and has small dense groups of bright red berries and white flowers with 5 petals. It was originally brought to Florida as an ornamental plant thanks to the red berries and flowers. However, it is a hardy and quick growing species which allowed it to quickly take over large swathes of Florida. It currently infests over 700,000 acres of Florida and is outlawed to buy seeds or parts of it in much of Florida. Despite this, many homes around Florida still hosts these invasive plants.

Phot by: David Gress

Photo by: Cheyenne Walser

Old World Climbing Fern

Lygodium Microphyllum

This creeping vine was first introduced to Florida in 1965 from Asia. It is a long vine sometimes reaching over 90 feet. It grows by clinging to other structures such as trees and buildings. It was originally introduced as an ornamental plant. Its spores are spread through wind which leads to difficulty in containing its spread. Thanks to its climbing ability, it often smothers trees creating more weight then their limbs can hold and blocking out the sun for the tree and surrounding plants. This plant is a more recent invasive species, but it is quickly spreading and is predicted to become the most problematic species in Florda.

Photo by: Peggy Greb

Water Hyacinth

Pontederia Crassipes

This floating plant was first introduced to Florida in the 1880s. It is a cluster of leaves that often has a group of lavender flowers on top. It is not known how the species first came to Florida, but it is commonly believed to have been brought as a gift from Japan during the 1884 World’s Fair in New Orleans. It is also considered one of the fastest growing plants known. It is able to double its size in under 2 weeks. This has led it spread prolifically across Florida waterways. Reaching its peak in 1960s of over 120,000 acres of water, it has seen successful management by the government. Despite this, it is still prevalent in Florida’s waterways where it prevents motor traffic and shades native submerged species from sunlight.

Photo by: Gabe Taylor

Lantana

Lantana Camara

This floral plant was first introduced to Florida in 1804. It is a shrub of about 3-4 feet tall. It forms clusters of brightly colored flowers with colors including white, yellow, orange, red and purple. It has been highly prized and cultivated around the world as an ornamental species. However, it is also very prolific and outcompetes many other shrubs. This is only one species of the family lantana, however, other species in the family are not considered invasive.

Photo by: Matt Long