Florida gardeners beware! That pretty plant you’re eyeing at the store could be invasive and harmful to the state’s ecosystem.
Experts from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) warn that shoppers might see a plant in the store and assume it’s fine for their garden, often unaware of a plant’s invasive potential.
“It is not the fault of the stores,” said Kimberly Moore, environmental horticulture professor at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center. “They buy and sell what people want. Plus, we often do not know that something new and fun could become invasive.”
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UF/IFAS Master Gardener volunteer Jeannie Schmidle said gardeners are often attracted to plants for their visual appeal and feel joy when surrounded by thriving, vibrant gardens.
Gardeners must balance that appreciation with awareness that some visually appealing plants could be harmful, Schmidle said.
Moore and Schmidle identified the top 8 invasive plants commonly found in Florida retail garden centers and why you should avoid them:
The Asparagus Fern, Asparagus aethiopicus (also A. densiflorus)
This Category I invasive, listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC), spreads quickly through seeds and underground tubers forming dense mats that outcompete native plants. They are difficult to eradicate, and once established, they cause severe displacement of native vegetation and long-term ecosystem changes. The berries they fruit are spread by birds, facilitating their invasion of hammocks and pinelands.
Lantana
Lantanas are invasive and toxic. They can also displace native plants. Lantana leaves and berries are toxic for many animals, and leaves are highly flammable, which can contribute to the spread of wildfire in invaded areas.
Pothos, also known as Devil’s Ivy, Epipremnum aureum
This is widely sold as a houseplant but can escape when dumped or moved outdoors. It contains toxic elements that are toxic to pets and humans. In South Florida, it climbs trees, smothers native vegetation and forms dense vines that block light and stress or kill host trees. It is listed as a Category II invasive in Florida.
Water Hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes
A patch of Water Hyacinth can be beautiful to see. They do display a lush carpet of foliage boasting lavender flowers. However, they can block out critical sunlight that feeds biologically important aquatic grasses.
Madagascar Periwinkle, Vinca or Catharanthus roseus
These seemingly delicately colorful plants frequently escape cultivation via seeds, especially in disturbed sites. It can persist and spread in natural areas, roadsides and urban interfaces. Known to compete with native groundcovers, they reduce plant diversity. Alkaloids make it toxic if ingested by pets or humans.
Wandering Dude, Tradescantia zebrina
This easy beginner plant is highly aggressive, and if not properly contained, it spreads rapidly and potentially outcompetes native plants. It is also highly toxic to pets if ingested.
Water Snowflake or Snowflower, or, Nymphoides indica
This Category I invasive escapes ponds and water gardens into lakes, canals and slow-moving waterways. It spreads rapidly by floating stems, fragments and seeds. Forms dense surface mats blocking sunlight to submerged native plants. Because it reduces oxygen levels in the water, it alters habitats for fish and invertebrates. Often misidentified or sold under benign-sounding names, increasing accidental spread.
Mimosa Tree or Persian silk tree, Albizia julibrissin
Mimosa trees are stunning, but don’t let the beauty deceive you. They produce an abundant number of seeds that germinate fast and are ready to spread into natural areas, displacing native trees and shrubs.
Why are nonnative plants a danger to Florida?
According to Florida Fish and Wildlife, scientific studies strongly indicate that invasive non-native plants harm Florida’s natural environment and lead to a loss of biodiversity.
Many of Florida’s unique native plant and animal communities are found nowhere else in North America. Invasive non-native plants disrupt Florida’s natural environment by forming novel habitats and by altering ecological processes that permit native plant and animals to survive.
Endangered plants, animals, and native ecosystems are being pushed closer to extinction by invasive non-native plants.
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