Status of Invasive Plants in Florida

Invasive Plants by Category

• Aquatic - 12 species, 1806 records
• Cactus - 1 species, 2 records
• Conifer Trees - 1 species, 1 records
• Forbs/Herbs - 184 species, 15199 records
• Grass or Grasslike - 86 species, 23016 records
• Hardwood Trees - 89 species, 112347 records
• Palms - 2 species, 46 records
• Shrub or Subshrub - 63 species, 10986 records
• Vines - 62 species, 31076 records

Top Ten Abundant Invasive Plants (by number of reports)

1. Brazilian peppertree - 56688 reports
2. melaleuca - 28169 reports
3. old world climbing fern - 14765 reports
4. cogongrass - 10755 reports
5. Japanese climbing fern - 6732 reports
6. Chinese tallowtree - 6118 reports
7. Caesarweed - 5469 reports
8. Australian-pine - 3521 reports
9. air-potato - 3391 reports
10. mimosa - 2895 reports

Top Ten Widespread Invasive Plants (by number of positive counties)

1. cogongrass - 66/67 (99%)
2. Japanese climbing fern - 64/67 (96%)
3. chinaberry - 63/67 (94%)
4. hairy beggarticks - 63/67 (94%)
5. vaseygrass - 62/67 (93%)
6. goosegrass - 60/67 (90%)
7. alligatorweed - 59/67 (88%)
8. air-potato - 59/67 (88%)
9. coco yam, wild taro - 58/67 (87%)
10. showy rattlebox - 58/67 (87%)

Counties with the most invasive species reported

1. Miami-Dade County - 486 species
2. Hillsborough County - 363 species
3. Broward County - 348 species
4. Lee County - 328 species
5. Palm Beach County - 324 species
6. Leon County - 316 species
7. Monroe County - 313 species
8. Alachua County - 302 species
9. Pinellas County - 299 species
10. Escambia County - 298 species

Counties with the least invasive species reported

1. Lafayette County - 46 species
2. Holmes County - 71 species
3. Baker County - 79 species
4. Hamilton County - 83 species
5. Union County - 84 species
6. Bradford County - 85 species
7. Washington County - 86 species
8. Dixie County - 90 species
9. Gilchrist County - 90 species
10. Taylor County - 91 species