ENH1222

Alternatives to Invasive Commonly Found in South Florida Landscapes1 Gary W. Knox, Sandra B. Wilson, Zhanao Deng, and Rosanna Freyre2

Invasive plants are non-native plants that form expanding plants commonly used in Florida landscapes. Only plants populations in natural areas and other communities considered to be generally available in the nursery trade are with which they were not previously associated (Langeland listed. Alternative plants are similar to respective invasive 2015). Invasive plants can cause ecological impacts such as plants as much as possible in terms of size, habit, texture, displacing native plants and associated wildlife or altering and flower color. Non-native, non-invasive plants in Table natural water flow and fire patterns. 1 were determined to be non-invasive (with assessments of “not a problem species” or “may be used with caution”) Some ornamentals listed as invasive by the University of by the IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Florida IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas (http://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/) or have not Natural Areas or by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council yet been evaluated. are still in commercial production and widely found in Florida landscapes. Homeowners might replace invasive References plants if non-invasive alternatives are researched, publicized and made readily available. By shifting production and Enloe, S.F. and K.A. Langeland. 2018. “Help protect use from invasive ornamentals to native or non-invasive Florida’s natural areas from non-native invasive plants.” cultivars, the nursery and landscape industry could benefit Circular1204. Florida Cooperative Extension Service, from potential revenue while fostering greater collaboration Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of with state agencies and environmental groups. Florida. February 1998. Revised August 2018. http://edis. ifas.ufl.edu/ag108 University of Florida research and Extension efforts over the last 10 years have focused on identifying non-invasive Lieurance, Deah, S. Luke Flory and Doria R. Gordon. alternatives by assessing the invasive traits of popular 2013, rev. 2016. The UF/IFAS Assessment of Nonnative non-native ornamentals, related genera, and their cultivars. Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas: History, Purpose, and Use. In more recent years, University of Florida breeding SS-AGR-371. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute efforts have focused on producing and trialing new non- of Food and Agricultural Sciences. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ invasive cultivars. Table 1 lists alternatives (both native ag376 and non-invasive, non-native ornamentals) to invasive

1. This document is ENH1222, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date September 2013. Revised August 2018. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2. Gary W. Knox, Extension specialist and professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, North Florida Research and Education Center, Quincy, FL; Sandra B. Wilson, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, Gainesville, FL; Zhanao Deng, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Wimauma, FL; and Rosanna Freyre, research scientist, Environmental Horticulture Department, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL, 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other UF/IFAS Extension publications, contact your county’s UF/IFAS Extension office. U.S. Department of Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A & M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, dean for UF/IFAS Extension. Wilson, S. B., J. A. Gersony, K. L. Nolan, J. C. Broda, and E. A. Skvarch, Jr. September 2014, reviewed October 2017. Recommended Native Landscape Plants for Florida’s Treasure Coast. ENH1082. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ ep348

Alternatives to Invasive Plants Commonly Found in South Florida Landscapes 2 Table 1. Invasive ornamentals commonly found in south Florida landscapes and commonly available native and non-native, non- invasive substitutes. Scientific names are those used by the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas (http://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/), the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/ taxonomysimple.aspx), and the Atlas of Florida Plants by the Institute for Systematic Biology (http://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ Default.aspx). Invasive ornamentalz Scientific Name Common Name Native substitute Non-native, non-invasive substitutez Ardisia crenata Coral ardisia Ardisia escallonioides, Marlberry Acalypha wilkesiana, Wilkes’ copperleaf, Callicarpa americana, American beautyberry Jacob’s coat Chrysobalanus icaco, Cocoplum Citharexylum spinosum, Fiddlewood Hamelia patens, Firebush Ilex vomitoria, Yaupon holly Myrsine cubana, Myrsine Psychotria ligustrifolia, Bahama wild coffee Psychotria nervosa, Wild coffee Viburnum obovatum, Walter’s viburnum, small- viburnum Bauhinia variegata Mountain ebony, orchid Bourreria succulenta, Bahama strongbark Bauhinia × blakeana, Hong Kong orchid tree Canella winterana, Pepper cinnamon, tree, Blake’s bauhinia cinnamon bark, wild cinnimon Cassia afrofistula,Dwarf golden shower Cynophalla flexuosa, Bayleaf capertree Cassia fistula,Golden shower herbacea, Coralbean, Cherokee- Clerodendrum quadriloculare, Starburst bean clerodendrum Guaiacum sanctum, Holywood ignum-vitae Cordia boissieri, White cordia, Mexican Myrcianthes fragrans, Simpson’s stopper, olive twinberry Dombeya burgessiae, Seminole piscipula, Jamaican dogwood, Fish- dombeya, Tropical rose hydrangea poison tree Gardenia thunbergia, White gardenia Vachellia choriophylla, Cinnecord Tabernaemontana divaricata, Cape Vachellia farnesiana, Sweet acacia jasmine Tibouchina granulosa, Glory bush, princessflower Bischofia javanica Japanese bishopwood Juniperus virginiana, Red cedar Juniperus chinensis ‘Torulosa’, Torulosa Pinus elliottii, Slash pine juniper, Chinese juniper Taxodium distichum, Bald cypress Platycladus orientalis, Arborvitae, Oriental arborvitae Podocarpus macrophyllus, Podocarpus, Japanese yew Casuarina equisetifolia Australian pine, horsetail Juniperus virginiana, Red cedar Juniperus chinensis ‘Torulosa’, Torulosa casuarina Pinus elliottii, Slash pine juniper, Chinese juniper Taxodium distichum, Bald cypress Platycladus orientalis, Arborvitae, Oriental arborvitae Podocarpus macrophyllus, Podocarpus, Japanese yew Colocasia esculenta Elephant ear, wild taro Crinum americanum, String-lily, Florida Cordyline fruticosa, Ti plant, broadleaf swamp-lily palm-lily Hymenocallis latifolia, Mangrove spider-lily Crinum asiaticum, Grand crinum lily, Asiatic poisonbulb Monstera deliciosa, Cut-leaf philodendron, split-leaf philodendron Philodendron bipinnatifidum, Selloum philodendron Cupaniopsis Carrotwood Conocarpus erectus, Buttonwood, button Ficus rubiginosa, Rusty fig, littleleaf fig anacardioides mangrove Peltophorum dubium, Horsebush, yellow Piscidia piscipula, Jamaican dogwood, fish- poinciana poison tree Terminalia bucerasy (syn. Bucida Sapindus saponaria, Soapberry, soaptree buceras), Black olive Simarouba glauca, Paradise tree

Alternatives to Invasive Plants Commonly Found in South Florida Landscapes 3 Invasive ornamentalz Scientific Name Common Name Native substitute Non-native, non-invasive substitutez Dioscorea bulbifera Air-potato Campsis radicans, Trumpet creeper Aristolochia littoralis, Calico flower Jacquemontia pentanthos, Key West morning See Flowering Vines for Florida (http:// glory, Skyblue clustervine edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg097) for additional Lonicera sempervirens, Coral honeysuckle, vines trumpet honeysuckle Eugenia uniflora Surinam cherry Ardisia escallonioides, Marlberry Myrciaria cauliflora,Jaboticaba Bourreria succulenta, Bodywood, Bahama Pittosporum tobira, Japanese strongbark cheesewood, Japanese pittosporum Calyptranthes pallens, Spicewood Citharexylum spinosum, Fiddlewood Forestiera segregata, Florida swampprivet Guaiacum sanctum, Holywood lignum-vitae Myrcianthes fragrans, Simpson’s stopper, twinberry Myrsine cubana, Myrsine Psychotria nervosa, Wild coffee Jasminum Gold coast jasmine Ernodea littoralis, Beach creeper Jasminum laurifolium, Angelwing dichotomum Hymenocallis latifolia, Mangrove spider-lily jasmine Mimosa strigillosa, Powderpuff Jasminum multiflorum,Star jasmine Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, Blue porterweed, Solandra grandiflora, Chalicevine, Joee solandra Lantana camara Lantana, shrub verbena Byrsonima lucida, Long Key locustberry Lagerstroemia spp., Crapemyrtle (dwarf Hamelia patens, Firebush forms) Lantana involucrata, Buttonsage Lantana camara ‘UF-T3’x, UF-T3 lantana Lycium carolinianum, Christmasberry (sterile) Salvia coccinea, Tropical sage, red salvia Lantana camara ‘UF-T4’x, UF-T4 lantana Sophora tomentosa subsp. truncata, Yellow (sterile) necklacepod Lantana camara ‘UF-1011-2’x, Bloomify™ Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, Blue porterweed, Rose lantana (sterile) Joee Lantana camara ‘UF-1013A-2A’x, Varronia globosa, Curacao bush Bloomify™ Red lantana (sterile) Rosa spp., Rose Lonicera japonica Japanese honeysuckle Campsis radicans, Trumpet creeper Trachelospermum jasminoides, Lonicera sempervirens, Coral honeysuckle, Confederate jasmine trumpet honeysuckle See Flowering Vines for Florida (http:// Symphyotrichum carolinianum, Climbing edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg097) for additional aster vines Melaleuca Melaleuca, paper bark, Annona glabra, Pond apple Callistemon rigidus, Bottlebrush, erect quinquenervia punk tree Conocarpus erectus var. sericeus, Silver bottlebrush, stiff bottlebrush buttonwood Callistemon viminalis, Bottlebrush, Conocarpus erectus, Buttonwood, button weeping bottlebrush mangrove Podocarpus macrophyllus, Podocarpus, Magnolia virginiana, Sweetbay Japanese yew Simarouba glauca, Paradise-tree

Alternatives to Invasive Plants Commonly Found in South Florida Landscapes 4 Invasive ornamentalz Scientific Name Common Name Native substitute Non-native, non-invasive substitutez Psidium cattleianum Strawberry guava Annona glabra, Pond apple Lagerstroemia spp., Crapemyrtle Bourreria succulenta, Bahama strongbark Macadamia integrifolia, Macadamia nut Calyptranthes pallens, Spicewood Noronhia emarginata, Madagascar olive Canella winterana, Pepper cinnamon, Pimenta dioica, Allspice tree cinnamon bark, wild cinnimon Pimenta racemosa, Bay rum tree, West Citharexylum spinosum, Fiddlewood Indian bay Coccoloba diversifolia, Pigeon plum, tie- tongue Cynophalla flexuosa, Bayleaf capertree Erythrina herbacea, Coralbean, Cherokee- bean Guaiacum sanctum, Holywood lignum-vitae Guapira discolor, Blolly, beeftree Ilex cassine, Dahoon holly, dahoon Myrcianthes fragrans, Simpson’s stopper, twinberry Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis, Elderberry, American elder Simarouba glauca, Paradise-tree Vachellia choriophylla, Cinnecord Ruellia simplex Mexican petunia Crinum americanum, String-lily, Florida Bougainvillea glabra, Bougainvillea, swamp-lily paper flower Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, Blue porterweed, Bougainvillea spectabilis, Great Joee bougainvillea, purple bougainvillea Ixora coccinea, Ixora, scarlet jungleflame Ruellia simplex (formerly brittoniana), ‘Purple Showers’y, ‘Purple Showers’ Mexican petunia (sterile, non-invasive by dispersal) Ruellia simplex R10-105-Q54y, Mayan Pink Mexican petunia (sterile, non- invasive by seed dispersal) Ruellia simplex ‘R10-102’y, Mayan Purple Mexican petunia (sterile, non-invasive by seed dispersal) Ruellia simplex ‘R10-108’y, Mayan White Mexican petunia (sterile, non-invasive by seed dispersal) Ruellia simplex ‘R12-2-1’y, Mayan Compact Purple Mexican petunia (sterile, non-invasive by seed dispersal) Russelia equisetiformis, Coral plant, firecracker plant Vernonia gigantea, Giant ironweed Scaevola taccada var. Beach naupaka, half-flower, Chrysobalanus icaco ‘Horizontal’, ‘Horizontal’ Carissa macrocarpa, Amatungulu, Natal sericea scaevola Cocoplum plum Pittosporum tobira, Japanese Genipa clusiifolia, Sevenyear apple pittosporum, Japanese cheesewood Heliotropium gnaphalodes, Sea lavender, sea rosemary Scaevola plumieri, Beachberry, inkberry Sophora tomentosa subsp. truncata, Yellow necklacepod Suriana maritima, Bay cedar Yucca aloifolia, Spanish bayonet, aloe yucca Schefflera actinophylla Australian umbrella tree, Canella winterana, Pepper cinnamon, Beaucarnea recurvata, Ponytail palm octopus tree, Queensland cinnamon bark, wild cinnimon Pandanus utilis, Screwpine umbrella tree Guapira discolor, Blolly, beeftree Ravenala madagascariensis, Traveler’s Simarouba glauca, Paradise-tree palm, traveler’s tree Strelitzia nicolai, White bird of paradise

Alternatives to Invasive Plants Commonly Found in South Florida Landscapes 5 Invasive ornamentalz Scientific Name Common Name Native substitute Non-native, non-invasive substitutez Schinus terebinthifolius Brazilian pepper Ardisia escallonioides, Marlberry Viburnum odoratissimum, Sweet Calyptranthes pallens, Spicewood viburnum Citharexylum spinosum, Fiddlewood Viburnum odoratissimum var. awabuki, Erythrina herbacea, Coralbean, Cherokee- Awabuki sweet viburnum bean Viburnum suspensum, Sandankwa Forestiera segregata, Florida swampprivet viburnum, viburnum Hamelia patens, Firebush Ilex cassine, Dahoon holly, dahoon Ilex vomitoria, Yaupon holly Miconia bicolor, Tetrazygia, Florida clover ash Myrcianthes fragrans, Simpson’s stopper, twinberry Morella cerifera, Wax myrtle, southern bayberry Myrsine cubana, Myrsine Psychotria nervosa, Wild coffee Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis, Elderberry, American elder Viburnum obovatum, Walter’s viburnum, small-leaf viburnum Senna pendula var. Christmas senna, Christmas Guaiacum sanctum, Holywood lignum-vitae Senna polyphylla, Desert cassia glabrata cassia, climbing cassia Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis, Senna surattensis, Glossy shower Elderberry, American elder Tabermaemontana divaricata, Cape Senna ligustrina, Privet wild sensitive plant jasmine Senna mexicana var. chapmanii, Chapman’s senna Sophora tomentosa subsp. truncata, Yellow necklacepod Sphagneticola trilobata Wedelia Ernodea littoralis, Beach creeper Arachis glabrata, Rhizoma perennial Helianthus debilis, Dune sunflower, beach peanut Juniperus chinensis sunflower ‘Parsonii’, Parson’s Chinese juniper Hymenocallis latifolia, Mangrove spider-lily Trachelospermum asiaticum, Asiatic Mimosa strigillosa, Powderpuff jasmine, dwarf jasmine Zamia Stachytarpheta jamaicensis, Blue porterweed, furfuraceay, Cardboard cycad, Joee Cardboard palm Zamia integrifolia, Coontie, Florida arrowroot Syzygium Jambolan, Java plum Bursera simaruba, Gumbo limbo Azadirachta indica, Neem, Indian-lilac, cumini Ficus aurea, Strangler fig nimtree Ficus elastica, Indian rubber Morus rubra, Red mulberry rubber tree, Indian rubber plant, rubber Quercus laurifolia, Laurel oak tree Ficus lyrata, Fiddleleaf fig Quercus virginiana, Live oak, southern live Ficus rubiginosa, Rusty fig, littleleaf fig oak Peltophorum dubium, Horsebush, yellow Sideroxylon foetidissimum, False mastic poinciana Terminalia bucerasy (syn. Swietenia mahagoni, West Indian mahogany Bucida buceras), Black olive Talipariti tiliaceum Sea hibiscus, mahoe Bursera simaruba, Gumbo limbo Cassia fistula, Golden shower Clusia rosea, Pitchapple, Scotch-attorney Cassia javanica, Apple blossom cassia, Piscidia piscipula, Jamaican dogwood, fish- Pink shower ficus elastica, Rubber tree, poison tree India rubber fig, India rubber tree Ficus lyrata, Fiddleleaf fig

Alternatives to Invasive Plants Commonly Found in South Florida Landscapes 6 Invasive ornamentalz Scientific Name Common Name Native substitute Non-native, non-invasive substitutez Triadica sebifera Chinese tallow tree, Acer rubrum, Red maple Jacaranda mimosifolia, Jacaranda, popcorn tree Bourreria succulenta, Bahama strongbark green-ebony, black poui Conocarpus erectus var. sericeus, Silver Lagerstroemia spp., Crapemyrtle buttonwood Peltophorum dubium, Horsebush, yellow Conocarpus erectus, Buttonwood, button poinciana mangrove Guapira discolor, Blolly, beeftree Liquidambar styraciflua, Sweetgum Platanus occidentalis, American sycamore, American planetree Sapindus saponaria, Soapberry, soaptree Simarouba glauca, Paradise-tree zAs listed by the University of Florida/IFAS Status Assessment, http://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/ . yNon-invasive cultivar derived from the invasive species as determined by the University of Florida/IFAS Infraspecific Taxon Protocol (Lieurance, Deah, S. Luke Flory and Doria R. Gordon. 2013, rev. 2016. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag376).

Alternatives to Invasive Plants Commonly Found in South Florida Landscapes 7