Exotic Plants in Biscayne National Park

NPS

Colubrina asiatica is one of many exotic invasive plants found in Biscayne National Park

What are exotic species?

Exotic species are those species that exist outside of their natural range. Exotic species may also be called non-native, alien, introduced, and non-indigenous. Human actions are often responsible for the introduction of non-native species, such as through the intentional or unintentional release of pets or by intentionally releasing non-native species for pest control. While some non-native species remain in low numbers and are not considered particularly problematic, other species can proliferate in the new environment, become invasive, and have serious ecological consequences. 

Exotic species fare well in their introduced environment because they can successfully compete against the native species and they often lack natural predators to keep their numbers in check. Because of its warm climate, South Florida is an inviting place for exotic species to become established, and many non-native species can be seen in Biscayne National Park. Whenever possible, park managers attempt to control the distribution and spread of these species.

How can I help? 

The most important thing each of us can to protect our fragile South Florida ecosystems from exotic species is to act responsibly. Never release an exotic plant or animal into the wild, even if you think it is harmless. Many non-native species can be eradicated or controlled if their introduction is caught early enough, so report sightings of exotic species to proper authorities. If you would like to report a sighting of a new exotic species from Biscayne National Park, click here. Please provide as much information as possible (such as the date, specific location, and number and size(s) of specimen(s) observed).  Photographs documenting your observation are encouraged.

Which exotic plants occur in Biscayne National Park?

The following exotic plants are known to occur in Biscayne National Park.  Exotic species that are (or have been) cultivated are indicated with an asterisk after the common name. The Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC) status is indicated in the last column. Exotics listed as FLEPPC Category I species are altering native communities by displacing native species, changing community structures, or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives. Exotics listed as FLEPPC Category II species have increased in abundance or frequency but have not yet altered plant communities to the extent shown by Category I species.

Common Name	Scientific Name	2009 FLEPPC Status
Achicoria azul	Launaea intybacea
African ground orchid, Monk orchid	Oeceoclades maculata
Angelwing jasmine *	Jasminum nitidum
Arabian jasmine *	Jasminum sambac	II
Asia crabgrass	Digitaria bicornis
Australian-pine, Horsetail casuarina	Casuarina equisetifolia	I
Bahia grass	Paspalum notatum
Beach napuka	Scaevola sericea	I
Bermuda grass	Cynodon dactylon
Black medic	Medicago lupulina
Bowstring-hemp, Mother-in-laws tongue	Sansevieria hyacinthoides	II
Brazilian-pepper	Schinus terebinthifolius	I
Brittleweed, Coatbuttons	Tridax procumbens
Broomcorn	Sorghum arundinaceum
Burmareed, Silkreed	Neyraudia reynaudiana	I
Canary Island date palm *	Phoenix canariensis
Castor-bean	Ricinus communis	II
Centipede grass	Eremochloa ophiuroides
China brake	Pteris vittata	II
Chinese fan palm *	Livistona chinensis
Cinnecord *	Acacia choriophylla
Cochineal cactus	Opuntia cochenillifera
Coconut palm	Cocos nucifera
Commercial date palm, Date	Phoenix dactylifera
Common dayflower	Commelina diffusa
Common liveleaf, Cathedral bells, Life plant	Kalanchoe pinnata
Common pigweed, slim amaranth	Amaranthus hybridus
Common plantain	Plantago major
Creeping indigo, Trailing indigo	Indigofera spicata
Creeping wedelia, Creeping oxeye	Wedelia trilobata	II
Crow's-foot grass, Durban crowfootgrass	Dactyloctenium aegyptium
Dayflowering jessamine	Cestrum diurnum	I
Desert palm, Washington fan palm	Washingtonia robusta
Dwarf banana *	Musa acuminata
Elliptic yellowwood	Ochrosia elliptica
Feather love grass	Eragrostis amabilis
Flattop mille graines	Hedyotis corymbosa
Florida tasselflower	Emilia fosbergii
Fourspike heliotrope	Heliotropium procumbens
Gale-of-wind, Carry-me-seed	Phyllanthus amarus
Globe-amaranth	Gomphrena serrata
Gophertail love grass	Eragrostis ciliaris
Grassleaf spurge	Euphorbia graminea
Green shrimpplant, Browne's blechum	Blechum pyramidatum
Guava	Psidium guajava	I
Guineagrass	Panicum maximum
Hurricane sedge, Hurricanegrass	Fimbristylis cymosa
Indian goose grass	Eleusine indica
Itch grass	Rottboellia cochinchinensis
Ivyleaf moriningglory	Ipomoea hederacea
Key lime *	Citrus aurantifolia
King ranch bluestem, Yellow bluestem	Bothriochloa ischaemum var. songarica
Largeflower Mexican clover	Richardia grandiflora
Latherleaf, Asian nakedwood	Colubrina asiatica	I
Little ironweed	Vernonia cinerea
Luckynut	Thevetia peruviana
Madagascar-periwinkle	Catharanthus roseus
Mango	Mangifera indica
Manila templegrass, Manilagrass	Zoysia matrella
Marsh parsley	Cyclospermum leptophyllum
Mascarene Island leafflower	Phyllanthus tenellus
Mascarene templegrass	Zoysia tenuifolia
Mauritius-hemp	Furcraea foetida
Mendez's sandmat	Chamaesyce mendezii
Napier grass, Elephantgrass	Pennisetum purpureum	I
Nut-grass	Cyperus rotundus
Oleander *	Nerium oleander
Orange geigertree, Largeleaf geigertree	Cordia sebestena
Oysterplant, Moses-in-the-cradle, Boatlily	Tradescantia spathacea	II
Papaya	Carica papaya
Paragrass	Urochloa mutica	I
Paurotis palm, Everglades palm *	Acoelorraphe wrightii
Pitted bluestem, Pitted beardgrass	Bothriochloa pertusa
Portiatree	Thespesia populnea	I
Punctureweed, Burrnut, Jamaican feverplant	Tribulus cistoides	II
Road-side flatsedge	Cyperus sphacelatus
Roadside sandmat	Chamaesyce lasiocarpa
Rocketweed, Oriental false hawksbeard	Youngia japonica
Rose Natalgrass	Rhynchelytrum repens	I
Royal poinciana, Flamboyant	Delonix regia
Sabicu *	Lysiloma sabicu
Santa Maria, Santa Maria feverfew	Parthenium hysterophorus
Sapodilla	Manilkara zapota	I
Seaside mahoe, Sea hibiscus, mahoe	Hibiscus tiliaceus	II
Senegal date palm	Phoenix reclinata	II
Shortleaf spikesedge	Kyllinga brevifolia
Shrubby false buttonweed	Spermacoce verticillata
Shrubverbena	Lantana camara	I
Signal grass, Tropical signalgrass	Urochloa subquadripara
Sisal-hemp	Agave sisalana	II
Slender amaranth	Amaranthus viridis
Smut grass	Sporobolus indicus
Spiny sowthistle	Sonchus asper
Sprenger's asparagus-fern	Asparagus densiflorus	I
St. Augustine grass	Stenotaphrum secundatum
Straggler-daisy	Calyptocarpus vialis
Surinam-cherry	Eugenia uniflora	I
Swamp fern, Toothed midsorus fern *	Blechnum serrulatum
Tamarind *	Tamarindus indica
Threeflower ticktrefoil	Desmodium triflorum
Three-lobed morningglory, Littlebell	Ipomoea triloba
Torpedo grass	Panicum repens	I
Tropical-almond, West Indian-almond	Terminalia catappa	II
Tuberous sword fern	Nephrolepis cordifolia	I
Twinberry, Simpson's stopper *	Myrcianthes fragrans
Valamuerto	Senna pendula var. glabrata	I
Violet wood sorrel, Pink woodsorrel	Oxalis debilis var. corymbosa
Weeping bottlebrush	Melaleuca viminalis
West Indian dropseed	Sporobolus indicus var. pyramidalis
White clover, Dutch clover	Trifolium repens
White leadtree	Leucaena leucocephala	II
White moneywort	Alysicarpus vaginalis
White sweetclover	Melilotus albus
Wild-bean, Wild bushbean	Macroptilium lathyroides
Yellow alder, Ramgoat dashalong	Turnera ulmifolia
Yellow nut-grass, Chufa flatsedge	Cyperus esculentus
no common name *	Coccothrinax barbadensis
no common name *	Cordyline fruticosa
no common name *	Dracaena marginata
no common name	Sophora tomentosa var. occidentalis

Additional sources of information on exotic species:

Biscayne National Park Exotic Animals Page

Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Nonnative Species

USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database

Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area

USDA National Invasive Species Information Center