Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council’s 2007 List of Invasive Plant Species
Purpose of the List: To focus attention on:
- - the adverse effects exotic pest plants have on
Florida’s biodiversity and plant communities,
- - the habitat losses from exotic pest plant
infestations,
- - the impacts on endangered species via habitat
loss and alteration,
- - the need to prevent habitat losses through
pest-plant management,
- - the socio-economic impacts of these plants
(e.g., increased wildfires in certain areas),
- - changes in the seriousness of different pest
plants over time,
- - the need to provide information that helps
managers set priorities for control programs.
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