Invasive Plants to Avoid in Florida

Invasive plants can be destructive to Florida’s natural environment.

The Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) has urged Florida’s nursery and landscape industry to stop production, sale and use of the following plants that are widely recognized to be invasive in natural areas. FNGLA also urges gardeners and consumers to consider alternatives to these plants.

Here are the plant species on the “do not sell” list released by the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association.

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Common Name
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Botanical Name

Air Potato Dioscorea bulbifera 
Asparagus fern  Asparagus aethiopicus
Begonia Begonia cucullata
Brazilian pepper-tree Schinus terebinthifolius
Caesar's weed Urena lobata
Calico flower Aristolochia littoralis
Camphor tree Cinnamomum camphora
Cat's claw vine Macfadyena unguis-cati
Chinaberry Melia azedarach
Chinese brake fern Pteris vittata
Chinese tallow Triadica sebifera
Cogongrass Imperata cylindrica
Coral ardisia Ardisia crenata
Coral vine Antigonon leptopus
Elephant ear and Taro Xanthosoma sagittifolium
Golden bamboo Phyllostachys aurea
Golden rain tree Koelreuteria elegans
Japanese climbing fern Lygodium japonicum
Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica
Kudzu Pueraria montana
Lantana Lantana camera
Lead tree Leucaena leucocephala
Mexican petunia Ruellia brittoniana 
Mimosa tree Albizia julibrissin
Nandina Nandina domestica
Natal grass Rhynchelytrum repens
Nightshade spp Solanum spp
Paper mulberry Broussonetia papyrifera
Paragrass Urochloa mutica
Privet Ligustrum lucidum
Puncture vine Tribulus cistoides 
Rattlebox Sesbania punicea
Rosary pea Abrus precatorius
Silverthorn Elaeagnus pungens
Skunk vine Paederia foetida
Spiderwort (small-leaf) Tradescantia fluminensis
Torpedograss Panicum repens
Tropical soda apple Solanum viarum 
Tung tree Aleurites fordii
Wedelia (Creeping oxeye) Wedelia trilobata
Wisteria (Chinese)  Wisteria sinensis
Additional plants recommended by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection