All three of the above are invasive trees that can be found in Grand Harbor.

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A. Australian Umbrella tree or Octopus tree.   (Schefflera actinophylla now Heptapleurum actinophylla)   Many will recognize this tree as a popular indoor plant, which has escaped into the wild in central and southern Florida.

 

B.  Carrotwood (Cubaniopsis anacardioides).  This tree with gray bark is native to New Guinea and Australia, the inner bark is orange in color.

 

C.  Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolia) Identifiable by its pretty red berries during Christmas season, it can be found growing in our mangroves.  This plant is from Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay.

 

An invasive plant is one that either does or could harm the environment, economy, or human health. 

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A native plant cannot be invasive but could be considered weedy or aggressive.  Our warm tropical climate creates a long growing season that encourages some plants from other countries with similar climates to proliferate in Florida.  Florida has 4 lists that categorize non-native, invasive plants:

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            1. Federal Noxious Weed List - regulatory body, plants on this list may not be sold in the US or transported between states.

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            2. Florida Noxious Weed List - regulatory body in Florida, plants on this list may not be sold in Florida without a permit.

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            3. FISC Plant List - The Florida Invasive Species Council, a nonprofit organization established in 1984, provides a list of Florida’s most invasive plants. This list separates invasive plants into two categories, Level I (not recommended to plant) and Level II (plant with caution). The list is non-regulatory but has been incorporated into many state and regional plant management procedures.

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            4. UF/UFAS Assessment - “Our overarching goal is to reduce non-native plant invasions in Florida and throughout southeast United States for the protection of natural and agricultural areas.”

A. Octopus tree- is an aggressive spreader that can grow to 40 feet tall shading out other plants. The common name references its flower clusters, which form multiple long red spikes that look like octopus tentacles.  Its seeds are distributed by birds, particularly fish crows and mockingbirds.  It is not recommended for a landscape plant in central and southern Florida.

*FISC Plant List, Level I.

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B. Carrotwood- a fast growing tree with smooth gray outer bark and leaves that look similar to the Brazilian pepper.  Tolerant of poor soil, flooding, drought, salt and shade, it escapes cultivation to crowd out native plants with its dense canopy.  Fish Crows are also fond of the carrotwood berries.

*Florida Noxious Weed List and FISC Plant List, Level I

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C. Brazilian Pepper- this member of the poison ivy family was introduced to Florida as an ornamental in the 1840s.  It grows rapidly, now thought to cover about 700,000 acres of land in Florida.  It typically forms dense forests that exclude all other plat life by producing a dense canope, sometimes replacing entire mangrove communities.  The Brazilian is a poor habitat for native wildlife species.

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*Federal Noxious Weed List, Florida Noxious Weed List,  and FISC Plant List, Level I 

Due to these trees aggressive and quick growing nature, it is a constant battle to rid our campus of them.  The best practice is to get to the trees when they are young and remove the entire plant along with their roots.  Older trees should be cut close to the ground and treated with a herbicide to prevent re-sprouting.​​​