Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council's 2005 List of Invasive Species
Click on Species to View Distribution
The latitude and longitude for many of these species were georeferenced. For more information on the georeferencing process, click here.
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.
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 plant communities.
Abbreviations used:
for "Gov. list": P = Prohibited by Fla. Dept. of Environmental Protection, N = Noxious weed listed by Fla. Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services, U = Noxious weed listed by U.S. Department of Agriculture.
for "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). See following 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 |
|
C, S |
| Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunningham ex Benth. |
earleaf acacia |
I |
|
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 |
| Ardisia elliptica Thunb |
shoebutton ardisia |
I |
|
S |
| Asparagus densiflorus (Kunth) Jessop |
Sprenger's asparagus fern |
I |
|
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,C,S |
| Casuarina glauca Sieb. ex Spreng |
gray sheoak |
I |
P |
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 |
|
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 thonningii Blume |
Chinese banyan |
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 Forsskal |
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 Ait. f. |
glossy privet |
I |
|
N, C |
| Ligustrum sinense Lour. |
Chinese privet |
I |
|
N,C,S |
| Lonicera japonica Thunb. |
Japanese honeysuckle |
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 pigra L. |
catclaw mimosa |
I |
P, N, U |
C, S |
| Nandina domestica Thunb. |
sacred bamboo |
I |
|
N, C |
| Nephrolepis cordifolia L. |
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 |
| Panicum repens L. |
torpedograss |
I |
|
N,C,S |
| Pennisetum purpureum Schumacher |
elephant grass |
I |
|
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, U |
N,C, S |
| Rhodomyrtus tomentosus (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 |
|
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 |
| Tradescantia spathacea Sw. |
boatlily |
I |
|
S |
| Triadica sebifera (L.) Small |
Chinese tallowtree |
I |
N |
N, C, S |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 Swartz |
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 |
| 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 |
| 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. 2005. List of Florida's Invasive Species. Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. Internet: http://www.fleppc.org/list/05list.htm
The 2005 list was prepared by the FLEPPC Plant List Committee:
Keith A. Bradley
The Institute for Regional Conservation
22601 S.W. 152nd Ave.
Miami, FL 33170
Kathy Craddock Burks (CHAIR)
Florida Natural Areas Inventory
Florida State University
1018 Thomasville Rd., Suite 200-C
Tallahassee, FL 32303
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 Duquesnel
Florida Park Service
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
P.O. Box 1052
Islamorada, FL 33036
Edward Freeman
The Nature Conservancy
1413 Boulevard of the Arts
Sarasota, FL 34236
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
Kenneth A. Langeland
Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, IFAS
University of Florida
7922 N.W. 71st St.
Gainesville, FL 32606
Robert W. Pemberton
Invasive Plants Research Lab
U.S. Department of Agriculture
3225 College Ave.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312
Daniel B. Ward
Department of Botany
University of Florida
220 Bartram Hall
Gainesville, FL 326ll
Richard P. Wunderlin
Institute for Systematic Botany
Department of Biological Sciences
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL 33620
