Invasive Plants

Colubrina
Colubrina asiatica is one of many invasive plants found in the park (NPS image)

The spread of invasive species is recognized as one of the major factors contributing to ecosystem change throughout the world. An invasive species is a "non-native species whose introduction does, or is likely to cause, economic or environmental harm or harm to human, animal or plant health."

Invasive species often lack natural predators to keep their numbers in check. Because of its warm climate, South Florida is an inviting place for them. Whenever possible, park managers attempt to control the distribution and spread of these species. Please do not release an exotic plant or animal into the wild, even if you think it is harmless.

Many invasive species may be controlled if caught early enough, so please report sightings to proper authorities. Click here to report the sighting of a new invasive species in the park. Please provide as much information as possible (date, location, number, size and/or image). A list of invasive species that may be found in the park is below.

The following invasive plants are known to occur in the park. Those that are, or have been, cultivated are indicated with an asterisk after the common name. The Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council status is indicated in the last column. Category I species are altering native communities by displacing native species, changing community structures or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives. Category II species have increased in abundance or frequency but have not yet altered plant communities to the extent shown by Category I species.

Common Name

Scientific Name

FLEPPC Status

Achicoria azul

Launaea intybacea

African ground orchid, Monk orchid

Oeceoclades maculata

Angelwing jasmine *

Jasminum nitidum

Arabian jasmine *

Jasminum sambac

II

Asia crabgrass

Digitaria bicornis

Australian-pine, Horsetail casuarina

Casuarina equisetifolia

I

Bahia grass

Paspalum notatum

Beach napuka

Scaevola sericea

I

Bermuda grass

Cynodon dactylon

Black medic

Medicago lupulina

Bowstring-hemp, Mother-in-laws tongue

Sansevieria hyacinthoides

II

Brazilian-pepper

Schinus terebinthifolius

I

Brittleweed, Coatbuttons

Tridax procumbens

Broomcorn

Sorghum arundinaceum

Burmareed, Silkreed

Neyraudia reynaudiana

I

Canary Island date palm *

Phoenix canariensis

Castor-bean

Ricinus communis

II

Centipede grass

Eremochloa ophiuroides

China brake

Pteris vittata

II

Chinese fan palm *

Livistona chinensis

Cinnecord *

Acacia choriophylla

Cochineal cactus

Opuntia cochenillifera

Coconut palm

Cocos nucifera

Commercial date palm, Date

Phoenix dactylifera

Common dayflower

Commelina diffusa

Common liveleaf, Cathedral bells, Life plant

Kalanchoe pinnata

Common pigweed, slim amaranth

Amaranthus hybridus

Common plantain

Plantago major

Creeping indigo, Trailing indigo

Indigofera spicata

Creeping wedelia, Creeping oxeye

Wedelia trilobata

II

Crow's-foot grass, Durban crowfootgrass

Dactyloctenium aegyptium

Dayflowering jessamine

Cestrum diurnum

I

Desert palm, Washington fan palm

Washingtonia robusta

Dwarf banana *

Musa acuminata

Elliptic yellowwood

Ochrosia elliptica

Feather love grass

Eragrostis amabilis

Flattop mille graines

Hedyotis corymbosa

Florida tasselflower

Emilia fosbergii

Fourspike heliotrope

Heliotropium procumbens

Gale-of-wind, Carry-me-seed

Phyllanthus amarus

Globe-amaranth

Gomphrena serrata

Gophertail love grass

Eragrostis ciliaris

Grassleaf spurge

Euphorbia graminea

Green shrimpplant, Browne's blechum

Blechum pyramidatum

Guava

Psidium guajava

I

Guineagrass

Panicum maximum

Hurricane sedge, Hurricanegrass

Fimbristylis cymosa

Indian goose grass

Eleusine indica

Itch grass

Rottboellia cochinchinensis

Ivyleaf moriningglory

Ipomoea hederacea

Key lime *

Citrus aurantifolia

King ranch bluestem, Yellow bluestem

Bothriochloa ischaemum var. songarica

Largeflower Mexican clover

Richardia grandiflora

Latherleaf, Asian nakedwood

Colubrina asiatica

I

Little ironweed

Vernonia cinerea

Luckynut

Thevetia peruviana

Madagascar-periwinkle

Catharanthus roseus

Mango

Mangifera indica

Manila templegrass, Manilagrass

Zoysia matrella

Marsh parsley

Cyclospermum leptophyllum

Mascarene Island leafflower

Phyllanthus tenellus

Mascarene templegrass

Zoysia tenuifolia

Mauritius-hemp

Furcraea foetida

Mendez's sandmat

Chamaesyce mendezii

Napier grass, Elephantgrass

Pennisetum purpureum

I

Nut-grass

Cyperus rotundus

Oleander *

Nerium oleander

Orange geigertree, Largeleaf geigertree

Cordia sebestena

Oysterplant, Moses-in-the-cradle, Boatlily

Tradescantia spathacea

II

Papaya

Carica papaya

Paragrass

Urochloa mutica

I

Paurotis palm, Everglades palm *

Acoelorraphe wrightii

Pitted bluestem, Pitted beardgrass

Bothriochloa pertusa

Portiatree

Thespesia populnea

I

Punctureweed, Burrnut, Jamaican feverplant

Tribulus cistoides

II

Road-side flatsedge

Cyperus sphacelatus

Roadside sandmat

Chamaesyce lasiocarpa

Rocketweed, Oriental false hawksbeard

Youngia japonica

Rose Natalgrass

Rhynchelytrum repens

I

Royal poinciana, Flamboyant

Delonix regia

Sabicu *

Lysiloma sabicu

Santa Maria, Santa Maria feverfew

Parthenium hysterophorus

Sapodilla

Manilkara zapota

I

Seaside mahoe, Sea hibiscus, mahoe

Hibiscus tiliaceus

II

Senegal date palm

Phoenix reclinata

II

Shortleaf spikesedge

Kyllinga brevifolia

Shrubby false buttonweed

Spermacoce verticillata

Shrubverbena

Lantana camara

I

Signal grass, Tropical signalgrass

Urochloa subquadripara

Sisal-hemp

Agave sisalana

II

Slender amaranth

Amaranthus viridis

Smut grass

Sporobolus indicus

Spiny sowthistle

Sonchus asper

Sprenger's asparagus-fern

Asparagus densiflorus

I

St. Augustine grass

Stenotaphrum secundatum

Straggler-daisy

Calyptocarpus vialis

Surinam-cherry

Eugenia uniflora

I

Swamp fern, Toothed midsorus fern *

Blechnum serrulatum

Tamarind *

Tamarindus indica

Threeflower ticktrefoil

Desmodium triflorum

Three-lobed morningglory, Littlebell

Ipomoea triloba

Torpedo grass

Panicum repens

I

Tropical-almond, West Indian-almond

Terminalia catappa

II

Tuberous sword fern

Nephrolepis cordifolia

I

Twinberry, Simpson's stopper *

Myrcianthes fragrans

Valamuerto

Senna pendula var. glabrata

I

Violet wood sorrel, Pink woodsorrel

Oxalis debilis var. corymbosa

Weeping bottlebrush

Melaleuca viminalis

West Indian dropseed

Sporobolus indicus var. pyramidalis

White clover, Dutch clover

Trifolium repens

White leadtree

Leucaena leucocephala

II

White moneywort

Alysicarpus vaginalis

White sweetclover

Melilotus albus

Wild-bean, Wild bushbean

Macroptilium lathyroides

Yellow alder, Ramgoat dashalong

Turnera ulmifolia

Yellow nut-grass, Chufa flatsedge

Cyperus esculentus

no common name *

Coccothrinax barbadensis

no common name *

Cordyline fruticosa

no common name *

Dracaena marginata

no common name

Sophora tomentosa var. occidentalis


Additional information:

Last updated: March 2, 2017

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