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Native Alternatives to Ornamental Invasives in Florida

Sandra B. WilsonProfessor

Department of Environmental Horticulture

University of Florida

Master Gardener Webinar Series, March 30th, 2017

• Invasive Exotic‐ a plant that is non‐native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health (National Invasive Species Council).

• Florida Native‐ species occurring within the state boundaries prior to European contact in the early sixteenth century (Florida Native Plant Society)

‐Invasive species are estimated to cost the global economy $1.4 trillion a year

‐The estimated annual costs associated with invasive plants in natural areas, agriculture and gardens of U.S. is $34.7 

billion

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Common Threads in LiteratureThe majority of plant species categorized today as invasive were deliberately introduced. 67% of FLEPPC plants were introduced as ornamentals.

By the time we recognize the severity of an invasion, it is often too late for effective control measures. Early control is 40 times less costly.

Global change will result in a world with more rather than less invasives. 

Market availability, frequency, and prices  correlate with invasion success. 

The Problem in Florida

www.lib.utexas.edu/

• Florida ranks second among U.S. states in the degree of ecosystem devastation as a result of invasive alien species.

• Florida has the second largest ornamental industry in the U.S.  Total industry  sales in 2015 were estimated at $10.7 billion (Hodges et al., 2016) 

Invasive Status in Florida?

FL Dept. of Ag.  Consumer Services (http://www.doacs.state.fl.us)

FL Exotic Pest Plant Council                    (http://www.fleppc.org)

IFAS Assessment of non‐native plants in Florida’s natural areas

(https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/)

1)invasion status, 2)known impacts, 3)potential for expansion, 4)difficulty of management, 5)commercial value

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Research Schematics

Potential Invader

Germination Requirements

Breeding Sterility

Cultivar Evaluation

Field Analysis

Photosynthetic/ Nutrient Use Efficiency

Management and Restoration

http://irrecenvhort.ifas.ufl.edu/

Buddleja spp.

Lantana camara

Ligustrum spp.

Miscanthus sinensis

Nandina domestica

Pennisetum spp.

Ruellia simplex

Stachytarpheta spp.

SpeciesNo. Selections Evaluated

14

12

15

11

11

9

8

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https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/

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Ruellia simplex- invasive

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UF and IndustryTrials

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Wk 16 Citra, 2012

Native Plants

• Florida native plants represent ______% of nursery sales (Hodges et al., 2016). ____6%  ___16% ___26% ___43% ___67%

• This doubled from reported native sales in 2010.

• 45.2% of retailer firms surveyed offered “Florida Friendly Plants”

• Florida has over 2,600 native species.  About what percentage of them are estimated to be in cultivation?   ____25% ____50%_____75% 

US National Arboretum‐http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/faqs/InvasivesAlternatives.html

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

New England Wildflower Soc.‐www.ipcyny.org

Explore your AlterNatives: substitution guide for the FL keys‐http://tame.ifas.ufl.edu/pdfs/publications/AlterNatives.pdf

Alternative Lists

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Invasive Native Alternative

Scaevola taccada Scaevola plumieri

Nandina domestica Ilex vomitoria

Lantana camara Lantana involucrata

Ligustrum sinense Forestiera segregata

Lonicera japonica Lonicera sempervirens

Ardisia elliptica, A. crenata Ardisia escallonioides

Schefflera actinophylla Krugiodendron ferreum

Sphagneticola trilobata Helianthus debilis

Psidium guajava Eugenia foetida

Stachytarpheta cayennensis Stachytarpheta jamaicensis

Ruellia simplex Ruellia caroliniensis

Common Examples

Criteria- Thinking outside of the box

• Flower color• Flower time• Form (evergreen vs herbaceous)• Habit (spreading, upright, etc) • Use (privacy, foundation, etc)• Fall color• Fruit• Growing conditions (wet, shade)• Maintenance • Hardiness• Attracts butterflies, birds, or bees• Ease of propagation, fast growth rate, long flowering time, copious 

fruiting, minimal care (similar qualities of invasive species)

Native Plant Reference Books

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Which landscape do you prefer?

A

B

Ruellia Native Alternatives• Stokesia laevis (Stokes Aster)

• Vernonia gigantea (Giant Ironweed)

• Itea virginica (Virginia Sweetspire)

• Helianthus angustifolius (Swamp Sunflower)

Ruellia caroliniensis

Wild

 Petunia

SandhillsFlatwoodsHammocks

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Helianthus angustifoliusSw

amp Sunflower

Marshes Wet flatwoods

Vernonia gigantea

Giant Ironweed

HammocksFloodplains

Tradescantia ohiensis

Spiderwort

Open, disturbed sites

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Stokesia laevisStoke’sAster

Wet flatwoodsWet savannasBogs

Stokesia laevisStoke’s Aster, Stokesia

Stokesia Cultivars

‘Omega Skyrocket’

‘Blue Danube’‘Alba’ ‘Purple Parasols’

‘Mary Gregory’ ‘Maroon’

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Itea virginicaVirginia Sweetspire

SwampsStream banksWet hammocksFloodplain forests

Itea virginicaVirginia Sweetspire

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Lantana camara- invasive

Lantana Native Alternatives

• Lantana involucrata

• Byrsonima lucida

• Cordia globosa

Lantana depressa

Pineland Lantana

Rockypinelands

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Lantana camera ‘Gold Mound’ vs. Lantana depressa var. depressa

Lantana involucrata

Wild

 Lantana, W

ild Sage

Coastal hammocksDunes

Lantana involucrataWild Lantana, Wild Sage

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Cordia globosaBloodberry

Hammocks

Byrsonima lucida

Locustberry

Rocky pinelandsHammocks

Nandina domestica- invasive

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Nandina Native Alternatives

• Psychotria nervosa

• Hamelia patens

• Myrcianthes fragrans

• Ilex spp.

• Lyonia lucida

Psychotria nervosa

Wild

 Coffee

Hammocks

Psychotria nervosaWild Coffee

Flower Fruit

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Psychotria nervosa

Native Psychotria species

P. nervosaP. sulzneri

Hamelia patens

Firebush

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Hamelia patens

Hamelia patens

Standard Form

Shrub Form

Myrcianthes fragrans

Simpson Stopper

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Myrcianthes fragrans

Compact Myrsianthes SelectionsRiefler Nursery, Davenport, FL

Stachytarpheta cayennensis –FLEPPC Category II

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Stachytarpheta jamaicensisPo

rterweed

Stachytarpheta jamaicensisPorterweed

Invasive vs. Native

Stachytarphetacayennensis – non-native

Stachytarpheta jamaicensis -native

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Ligustrum sinense- invasive

Ligustrum Native Alternatives

• Forestiera segregata 

• Viburnum obovatum

• Myrcianthes fragrans

• Randia aculeata

Forestiera segregata

Florida Privet

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Forestiera segregataWild Olive, Florida Privet 

Viburnum obovatum

Walter’s Viburnum

Viburnum obovatumWalter’s Viburnum

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Mehrhof Gardens, Gainesville

Viburnum Compact CultivarsRiefler Nursery, Davenport, FL

‘Mrs. Schiller’s Delight’, ‘Riefler’s Densa’, ‘Walter’s Claim to Fame’, ‘Walter’s Whorled Class’, ‘Riefler’s Robusta’

Randia aculeata

White Indigo Berry

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Psychotria nervosaWild

 Coffee

Psychotria nervosaWild Coffee

Flower Fruit

Psychotria nervosa

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Native Psychotria species

P. nervosaP. sulzneri

Web ResourcesWilson Lab‐ Native and Invasive Plant Publications

http:/irrecenvhort.ifas.ufl.eduNative Alternatives for North Florida 

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep467 Native Alternatives for Central Florida 

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep468 Native Alternatives for South Florida 

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep483 IFAS Assessment of Non‐native Plants

https://assessment.ifas.ufl.eduFlorida Friendly Landscaping Database 

http://www.floridayards.org/fyplants/index.phpAssociation of Florida Native Nurseries (www.afnn.org)Florida Native Plant Society (www.fnps.org) Recommended native plants  (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep348)

Questions for CEU Credit

1. Where can you look to find out if a plant is safe for the landscape in Florida?

2. What defines whether a plant is native or not?

3.  Name and describe a native alternative that you might use to replace an invasive plant.  

*Please turn in questions and answers to your Master Gardener Coordinator for 1 hour of credit.