Invasive Trees In Florida

The China Berry Tree is an invasive tree in Florida. According to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, landscape contractors should avoid planting it, as it reduces plant diversity wherever it grows.

Invasive plants cost Floridians millions of dollars each year trying to control them. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, more than 1.5 million acres of Florida's remaining natural areas have become infested with non-native plant species.

The first step to control the spread is to avoid planting them. If you find these in your clients' landscape, remove them by pulling by hand or carefully applying herbicides.

 

Golden Rain Tree. Prized for its yellow petals and rose-colored pods, this plant is a menace. (University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences)

For more information about invasive plants, visit the University of Florida Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants (plants.ifas.ufl.edu) and the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (fleppc.org).