Invasive Exotic Plant Information
The following information explains why Sandy Cove is committed to following the Florida recommendations to remove invasive plants and replace with only native and Florida friendly plants
The Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (EPPC) has identified invasive plants as category I or II.
Category I: “Invasive exotics that are altering native plant communities by displacing native species, changing community structures or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives.”
Category II: plants on their way to becoming CAT I because of “increased abundance or frequency in FL plant communities”
Other information taken from many Florida publications:
- Non-native plants become invasive when they outgrow and replace native plants in natural plant communities
- Ecologically, invasive plants change the composition of natural plant and animal communities
- Animals that co-existed and evolved with native species cannot adapt to the rapidly changing habitat
- Invasive plants deplete the soil of nutrients and moisture
- Invasive plants block sunlight to native plants
- Invasive plants prevent access to water (for animal species)
- Invasive plants deprive animals of natural nesting sites and food sources
- Invasive plants provide ideal conditions for yet other non-native species to invade.
- Invasive plants greatly reduce plant diversity which can destroy the ecological balance of a community
- Certain plants send out roots that seek water, and therefore they invade water pipes and ruin them as well as restrict water flow
- Many invasive plants are poisonous to humans and animals
- Many invasive plants have toxic poisons in their sap that can cause dangerous allergic reactions; the Brazilian Pepper is one of the plants that causes allergic reactions
Many invasive plants have needles or thorns that can also cause a dangerous allergic reaction as well and damage people’s eyes
Planting a native and Florida friendly landscape will lessen excessive
use of water, fertilizers, and pesticides thus protecting our aquifer. It is necessary to be sensitive to each plant’s preferred growing conditions such as:
- Soil pH (acid to alkaline)
- Soil texture (clay, loam, sandy or a mixture of all three)
- Soil moisture /drainage(well drained, medium drained, wet or
a combination)
- Relative drought tolerance (High, medium, low or none)
- Light range and light optimum (full sun to shade)
- Salt tolerance (high to low)
- Attracts wildlife (butterflies, birds, hummingbirds, other)
To learn more look on the following websites:
Southwest Florida Water Management District
FL dept of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Invasive Plant Management
Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council
Invasive and Exotic Species of North America
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