Invasive Non-Native
Plants in Florida
Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants
With Support From The St. Johns River Water Management District
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Invasive Non-Native |
| University of Florida, IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants |
Aquatic, Wetland and Invasive Plant Information System With Support From The St. Johns River Water Management District |
Invasive, non-native plants
can and do invade Florida's
forests and wetlands. They replace native plant species and often
form exotic monocultures (where nothing else grows). In many cases, these stands of exotic
plants are not useful to the state's wildlife, which has evolved to depend on native
plants for food and shelter. Only sometimes are native animals able to adapt to non-native plants.
Should exotic plants replace too much of our native plants, those animals that are dependent on
native plants will move away or even perish (become extirpated).
Because Floridians are interested in preserving the state's unique and beautiful flora and fauna,
there
is tremendous interest in identifying and controlling invasive non-native plants and animals
before they grow and spread to have lasting effects.
Here are some of the invasive, non-native plants being studied at the University of Florida
Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants with support from the St. Johns River Water
Management District: