INVASIVE SPECIES AWARENESS PROGRAM

Brazilian pepper should not be cultivated because a) it is disruptive of natural communities and species; b) it causes skin rashes and respiratory irritation in many people. This invasive species can be particularly harmful, and Brazilian pepper plants should be cut off near the ground with the stump painted using a systemic herbicide to prevent regrowth. 

An alternative source of Christmas berries is the Yaupon or Dahoon holly tree. These two hollies are also a source of caffeine and antioxidants if a tea is made from boiling their dried leaves for 10 minutes or less. However, their berries are only for the birds…literally! (There is a chance for nausea if you boil the leaves longer than 10 minutes.) 

Notice that the leaves of the Brazilian pepper tend to be wider and more oval-shaped, with pronounced veins, while the Dahoon and Yaupon holly leaves are waxier, smaller, and more elongated. It's also important to be aware of other invasive species like Chinese tallow, Cogan grass, and Tropical soda apple that can disrupt local ecosystems.

Cogan grass is an invasive species that poses a significant threat in Florida and several other southeastern states. Classified as a pest in 73 countries, it ranks among the 'Top 10 Worst Weeds in the World.' This invasive grass negatively impacts pine productivity and survival, wildlife habitat, recreational areas, native plants, fire behavior, and site management costs. Other invasive species like air potato, Brazilian pepper, Chinese tallow, and Tropical soda apple also contribute to ecological challenges in the region. 

In Volusia County, Cogan grass may be one of the most damaging invasives due to its detrimental effects on pasture land and pine production. It heightens the risk of wildfires and alters fire behavior, making management even more challenging. Originally introduced into the USA in the early 1900s from Japan and the Philippines, the native range of cogongrass is extensive, encompassing Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Air potato, a highly invasive species, is an aggressive, herbaceous vine that can reach lengths of 65 feet within a single growing season. The presence of underground tubers can vary, and its slender stems twine to the left (counter-clockwise), displaying a round to slightly angled cross section. The leaf arrangement is consistently alternate, featuring thin-textured, glabrous (hairless) leaves that range from 2 to 10 inches long. These leaves are cordate (heart-shaped) with broadly rounded basal lobes, elongated tips, and entire margins, with conspicuous venation on the upper surface. In Florida, bulbils of the Air potato are spread by gravity and can float on water currents. Additionally, they are dispersed by heavy machinery and through the movement of contaminated brush and soil, making the management of Dioscorea bulbifera labor-intensive and costly. This situation is similar for other invasive species like Brazilian pepper, Chinese tallow, Cogan grass, and Tropical soda apple, which also pose challenges in controlling their spread.

Tropical soda apple is an invasive species that invades pastures, fields, and parks, forming thick stands that can be impenetrable to livestock, large wildlife, and humans, primarily due to the numerous thorns on its stems and leaves. This invasive plant, alongside others like air potato, Brazilian pepper, Chinese tallow, and Cogan grass, reproduces year-round, with most flowering and reproduction taking place from September to May. The flowers produce 1″ diameter fruit that resembles a tiny watermelon and is spread by cattle, deer, and other wild animals that feed on the fruit and disperse the seeds through their feces. Additionally, the tropical soda apple can be spread through harvested hay and turf grass from infested pastures. Each fruit contains hundreds of seeds, and since each plant can produce tens of thousands of seeds, it can be highly prolific. 

So far, the only successful control method for tropical soda apple has been the release of a tiny beetle (gratiana boliviana) into the affected pastures or fields. This biological control thrives as long as there is tropical soda apple available for consumption. For further information and to contact the University of Florida about these beetles, visit this link: https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/solanum-viarum/

This tree, known as Chinese tallow, grows in dense stands because the seeds that fall and are carried to other locations are very hardy. They produce beautiful fall leaves, which is why many people want to plant them. However, they are classified as an invasive species and can propagate themselves into neighboring yards where they may be less appreciated.

Fortunately, there are alternatives that offer stunning fall foliage and are not invasive, such as Southern red maple, sweetgum, Shumard oak, red oak, and rusty black haw (an understory bush), to name a few.

Currently, control of Chinese tallow is limited to manual destruction, preventative measures, and chemical control. The sooner they are removed from their location, the better the control. Additionally, other invasive species like air potato, Brazilian pepper, Cogan grass, and Tropical soda apple should also be monitored. For more information on the Chinese tallow, visit: https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/triadica-sebifera/

This climbing fern features twining stems of indeterminate growth and can create thick masses of ground cover or canopy in trees. Similar to invasive species like air potato and Brazilian pepper, climbing fern can become so dense that it forms a 'living wall' of vegetation, which shades and eliminates necessary undergrowth such as American beauty berry, tree saplings, and seedlings that naturally produce new pine and hardwoods. These understory berry plants provide food for animals and birds. Because it propagates by spores, this fern is prolific and hard to control, much like Cogan grass and Chinese tallow. Control of Japanese climbing fern should begin immediately following discovery, especially before it competes with other invasive species like tropical soda apple. Control measures should be employed when the fern is not producing spores, which occurs in the late summer/early fall.

Old world climbing fern is very similar to the Japanese climbing fern in its habit and highly invasive nature. The leaves are slightly different in shape, having a smooth rather than lobed edge and are often found in cypress swamps. Both species, along with other invasive species like air potato and Brazilian pepper, form a fire ladder that allows forest fires to reach the more vulnerable branches above. It is distinguishable by its winding tangled rachis (stem). Control of this fern is akin to managing the Japanese fern, as well as other invasive species such as Chinese tallow and Cogan grass. Prescribed burning can help, but does not eliminate it altogether. Early discovery and eradication are crucial, especially in areas affected by tropical soda apple.

The sprengeri is not a true fern; it originates from South Africa and belongs to the asparagus family. This invasive species is found in large colonies, displacing native ground cover and understory shrubs like wild coffee. Asparagus fern has also escaped into tropical hammocks in Palm Beach County, where it competes with other invasive plants such as air potato and Brazilian pepper, choking out young native plants. It is an evergreen plant with long, leggy branches, tiny scale-like leaves, and thorns, making trimming and cultivating painful. Sprengeri is invasive because of its tendency to overgrow its planned parameters. It is commonly used for ornamental purposes as ground cover or container plants and tolerates full sun, unlike many true ferns. 

There is an alternative to this expansive plant: the foxtail fern, also an asparagus, which tolerates full sun to partial shade, has upright branches, and lacks thorns. Its shape resembles a bushy fox tail. Both Sprengeri and Foxtail produce berries that are poisonous. In the broader context of invasive plants, it's worth noting other species like Chinese tallow, Cogan grass, and Tropical soda apple, which also pose threats to native ecosystems.

The downy rose myrtle is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 6′ tall, characterized by short, dense, soft hairs on its stems. It features 1″ diameter rose-colored flowers and produces dark purple berries that some humans reportedly use to make jam. While it may seem like a beautiful and useful shrub, it poses significant ecological threats by establishing dense monocultures in the pine understory, similar to other invasive species like Brazilian pepper, Chinese tallow, and air potato. This shrub can threaten the growth of essential understory shrubs and new pine growth, potentially becoming a greater issue than Brazilian pepper in central Florida. Additionally, being fire-adapted, downy rose myrtle re-sprouts prolifically after fires, complicating control efforts. Its ability to spread easily through seeding—often facilitated by animal and bird defecation—means it can overtake the entire understory ecology of a forest, pasture, or yard, much like Cogan grass or tropical soda apple. For those looking for alternatives to downy rose myrtle, consider Rhododendron chapmanii, a Florida native azalea species. More information on this species can be found at: https://floridata.com/Plants/Apocynaceae/Rhododendron%20chapmanii/1104.