Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council’s 2007 List of Invasive Plant Species

Purpose of the List: To focus attention on:


FLEPPC List Definitions:
Exotic – a species introduced to Florida, purposefully or accidentally, from a natural range outside of Florida.
Native – a species whose natural range included Florida at the time of European contact (1500 AD).
Naturalized exotic – an exotic that sustains itself outside cultivation (it is still exotic; it has not “become” native).
Invasive exotic – an exotic that not only has naturalized, but is expanding on its own in Florida native plant communities.


Abbreviations used:

Government List (Gov. List):
P = Prohibited by Florida Department of Environmental Protection;
N = Noxious weed listed by Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services;
U = Noxious weed listed by U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Regional Distribution (Reg. Dis.):
N = north;
C = central;
S = south;
referring to each species’ current distribution in general regions of Florida (not its potential range in the state). Please refer to the adjacent map.

Category I

Invasive exotics that are altering native plant communities by displacing native species, changing community structures or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives. This definition does not rely on the economic severity or geographic range of the problem, but on the documented ecological damage caused.

Scientific Name Common Name EPPC Cat. Gov. list Reg. Dist
Abrus precatorius L. rosarypea I N C, S
Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunningham ex Benth. earleaf acacia I C, S
Albizia julibrissin Durazz. mimosa I N, C
Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth woman's tongue I C, S
Ardisia crenata Sims coral ardisia I N, C, S
Ardisia elliptica Thunb shoebutton ardisia I N C, S
Asparagus aethiopicus L. Sprenger's asparagus fern I N, C, S
Bauhinia variegata L mountain ebony I C, S
Bischofia javanica Blume Javanese bishopwood I C, S
Calophyllum antillanum Britt Antilles calophyllum I S
Casuarina equisetifolia L. Australian pine I P, N N,C,S
Casuarina glauca Sieb. ex Spreng gray sheoak I P, N C, S
Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J. Presl camphortree I N,C,S
Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott coco yam, wild taro I N,C,S
Colubrina asiatica (L.) Brongn. Asian nakedwood I N S
Cupaniopsis anacardioides (A. Rich.) Radlk. carrotwood I N C, S
Dioscorea alata L. winged yam I N N,C,S
Dioscorea bulbifera L. air potato I N N,C,S
Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms waterhyacinth I P N,C,S
Eugenia uniflora L. Surinam cherry I C, S
Ficus microcarpa Vahl. I C, S
Hydrilla verticillata (L. f.) Royle hydrilla I P, U N,C,S
Hygrophila polysperma (Roxb.) T. Anders. miramar weed I P, U N,C,S
Hymenachne amplexicaulis (Rudge) Nees West Indian marsh grass I C, S
Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv. cogongrass I N, U N, C, S
Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. swamp morning-glory I P, U C
Jasminum dichotomum Vahl Gold Coast jasmine I C, S
Jasminum fluminense Vell. jazmin de trapo I C, S
Lantana camara L. lantana I N,C,S
Ligustrum lucidum W.T. Aiton glossy privet I N, C
Ligustrum sinense Lour. Chinese privet I N,C,S
Lonicera japonica Thunb. Japanese honeysuckle I N,C,S
Ludwigia peruviana (L.) Hara Peruvian primrose-willow I N,C,S
Lygodium japonicum (Thunb. ex Murr.) Sw. Japanese climbing fern I N N,C, S
Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br. old world climbing fern I N C, S
Macfadyena unguis-cati (L.) A.H. Gentry catclawvine I N,C, S
Manilkara zapota (L.) van Royen sapodilla I S
Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) Blake melaleuca I P, N, U C, S
Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka rose Natal grass I N, C, S
Mimosa pellita Kunth ex Willd. catclaw mimosa I P, N, U C, S
Nandina domestica Thunb. sacred bamboo I N, C
Nephrolepis cordifolia (L.) C. Presl narrow swordfern I N,C,S
Nephrolepis multiflora (Roxb.) Jarrett ex Morton Asian swordfern I C, S
Neyraudia reynaudiana (Kunth) Keng ex A.S. Hitchc. burmareed I N S
Paederia cruddasiana Prain sewer vine I N S
Paederia foetida L. skunk vine I N N,C,S
Panicum repens L. torpedograss I N,C,S
Pennisetum purpureum Schumacher elephant grass I N,C, S
Pistia stratiotes L. waterlettuce I P N,C,S
Psidium cattleianum Sabine strawberry guava I C, S
Psidium guajava L. guava I C, S
Pueraria montana (Lour.) Merr. kudzu I N N,C, S
Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Ait.) Hassk. rose myrtle I N C, S
Ruellia caerulea Leonard Britton's wild petunia I N, C, S
Scaevola sericea SCFR4 beach naupaka I N C, S
Schefflera actinophylla (Endl.) H.A.T. Harms octopus tree I C, S
Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi Brazilian peppertree I P, N N, C, S
Senna pendula glabrata (Vogel) Irwin & Barneby valamuerto I C, S
Solanum tampicense Dunal wetland nightshade I N, U C, S
Solanum viarum Dunal tropical soda apple I N, U N, C, S
Syngonium podophyllum Schott American evergreen I C, S
Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels Java plum I C, S
Tectaria incisa Cav. incised halberd fern I S
Thespesia populnea (L.) Soland. ex Correa portia tree I C, S
Tradescantia fluminensis Vell. small-leaf spiderwort I N, C
Triadica sebifera (L.) Small Chinese tallowtree I N N, C, S
Urochloa mutica (Forsk.) T.Q. Nguyen para grass I C, S

Category II

Invasive exotics that have increased in abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant communities to the extent shown by Category I species. These species may become ranked Category I, if ecological damage is demonstrated.

Scientific Name Common Name EPPC Cat. Gov. list Reg. Dist
Adenanthera pavonina L red beadtree II S
Agave sisalana Perrine sisal II C, S
Alstonia macrophylla Wallich ex G. Don deviltree II S
Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. alligatorweed II P N, C, S
Antigonon leptopus Hook. & Arn. coral vine II N, C, S
Aristolochia elegans Mast. elegant dutchman's pipe II N, C
Asystasia gangetica (L.) T. Anders Chinese violet II C, S
Begonia cucullata Willd clubed begonia II N, C
Blechum pyramidatum (Lam.) Urban Browne's blechum II N, C, S
Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) L'Hér. ex Vent. paper mulberry II N, C
Callisia fragrans (Lindl.) Woods basketplant II C, S
Casuarina cunninghamiana Miq. river sheoak II P C, S
Cecropia obtusifolia Bertol. trumpet-tree II S
Cestrum diurnum L. day jessamine II C, S
Chamaedorea seifrizii Burret Seifriz's chamaedorea II S
Clematis terniflora DC sweet autumn virginsbower II N, C
Cryptostegia madagascariensis Bojer ex Dcne. Madagascar rubbervine II C, S
Cyperus involucratus Rottb umbrella plant II C, S
Cyperus prolifer Lam miniature flatsedge II C
Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. ex DC. Indian rosewood II C, S
Elaeagnus pungens Thunb. thorny olive II N, C
Epipremnum pinnatum (L.) Engl centipede tongavine II C, S
Ficus altissima Blume council tree II S
Flacourtia indica (Burm. f.) Merr governor's plum II S
Hemarthria altissima (Poir.) Stapf & C.E. Hubbard limpograss II C, S
Hibiscus tiliaceus L. sea hibiscus II C, S
Ipomoea carnea fistulosa (Mart. ex Choisy) D. Austin gloria de la manana II P C, S
Jasminum sambac (L.) Ait. Arabian jasmine II S
Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. cathedral bells II C, S
Koelreuteria elegans formosana (Hayata) F.G. Mey. flamegold II C, S
Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit white leadtree II N, C, S
Limnophila sessiliflora (Vahl) Blume Asian marshweed II P N, C, S
Livistona chinensis (Jacq.) R. Br. ex Mart. fountain palm II C, S
Melia azedarach L. chinaberry II N,C,S
Melinis minutiflora Beauv. molassesgrass II C,S
Merremia tuberosa (L.) Rendle Spanish arborvine II S
Murraya exotica L. Chinese box II S
Myriophyllum spicatum L. Eurasian watermilfoil II P N, C, S
Nymphoides cristata (Roxb.) O. Ktze. crested floating heart II C, S
Passiflora biflora Lam. twoflower passionflower II S
Pennisetum setaceum (Forsk.) Chiov. crimson fountaingrass II S
Phoenix reclinata Jacq. Senegal date palm II C, S
Phyllostachys aurea Carr. ex A.& C. Rivière golden bamboo II N, C
Pittosporum pentandrum (Blanco) Merr. Taiwanese cheesewood II S
Pteris vittata L. ladder brake II N, C, S
Ptychosperma elegans (R. Br.) Blume ptychosperma II S
Ricinus communis L. castorbean II N, C, S
Rotala rotundifolia (Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.) Koehne roundleaf toothcup II S
Sansevieria hyacinthoides (L.) Druce iguanatail II C, S
Scleria lacustris C. Wright lakeshore nutrush II C, S
Sesbania punicea (Cav.) Benth. rattlebox II N, C, S
Solanum diphyllum L. twoleaf nightshade II N, C, S
Solanum jamaicense P. Mill. Jamaican nightshade II C
Solanum torvum Sw. turkey berry II N, U N, C, S
Sphagneticola trilobata (L.C. Rich.) Pruski Bay Biscayne creeping-oxeye II N, C, S
Stachytarpheta urticifolia Sims nettleleaf velvetberry II S
Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman queen palm II C,S
Syzygium jambos (L.) Alston Malabar plum II C, S
Terminalia catappa L. troipical almond II C, S
Terminalia muelleri Benth. Australian almond II C, S
Tradescantia spathacea Sw. boatlily II S
Tribulus cistoides L. Jamaican feverplant II N, C, S
Urena lobata L. Caesarweed II N, C, S
Urochloa maxima (Jacq.) R. Webster guineagrass II C, S
Vernicia fordii (Hemsl.) Airy-Shaw tungoil tree II N, C
Vitex trifolia L. simpleleaf chastetree II C, S
Washingtonia robusta H. Wendl. Washington fan palm II C, S
Wisteria sinensis (Sims) DC. Chinese wisteria II N, C
Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott arrowleaf elephant's ear II N, C, S



Citation example: FLEPPC. 2007. List of Florida's Invasive Species. Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. Internet: http://www.fleppc.org/list/07list_brochure.pdf



The 2007 list was prepared by the FLEPPC Plant List Committee:

Keith A. Bradley – Chair (2006-present), The Institute for Regional Conservation, 22601 S.W. 152nd Ave., Miami, FL 33170

Kathy Craddock Burks – Chair (2001-2006)

Nancy Craft Coile, Botanist Emerita, Division of Plant Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 22804 N.W. County Road 2054, Alachua, FL 32615

Janice A. Duquesnel, Florida Park Service, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, P.O. Box 1052, Islamorada, FL 33036

David W. Hall, Private Consulting Botanist, 3666 N.W. 13th Place, Gainesville, FL 32605

Roger L. Hammer, Miami-Dade Parks Department, Castellow Hammock Nature Center, 22301 S.W. 162nd Ave., Miami, FL 33030

Patricia L. Howell, Broward County Parks, Environmental Section, 950 NW 38th Street, Oakland Park, FL 33309

Colette C. Jacono, U. S. Geological Survey, Center for Aquatic Resources Studies, 7920 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL 32653

Kenneth A. Langeland, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, IFAS, University of Florida, 7922 N.W. 71st St., Gainesville, FL 32606

Chris Lockhart, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, c/o P.O. Box 243116, Boynton Beach, FL 33424-3116

Gil Nelson, Gil Nelson Associates, 157 Leonard’s Drive, Thomasville, GA 31792

Robert W. Pemberton, Invasive Plants Research Lab, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 3225 College Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312

Jimi L. Sadle, Everglades National Park, 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034

Robert W. Simons, 1122 S.W. 11th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32601-7816

Sandra M. Vardaman, Alachua County Forever Land Conservation Program, Alachua County Environmental Protection Dept., 201 SE 2nd Avenue, Suite 201, Gainesville, FL 32601

Daniel B. Ward, Department of Botany, University of Florida, 220 Bartram Hall, Gainesville, FL 326ll

Richard P. Wunderlin, Institute for Systematic Botany, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620