Florida Invasive Trees

Listed are the eight most prevalent category one invasive trees seen in the Sarasota area. These are trees that grow very aggressively, displacing native species, taking over lands and animal habitat. Given the opportunity, you want to remove them. When you cut down an invasive tree, it’s a good idea to apply an herbicide paint such as triclopyr to the freshly cut stump to prevent it from growing back.

For a detailed list of the ever-growing list of Florida invasive trees you can follow this link to the Florida Invasive Species Council.

  • Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius)

    Probably Florida’s most invasive plant. Forms dense thickets. Distinctive red berries.

  • Melaleuca Tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia)

    Also called paper trees due to their “papery” bark. Maleleucas and pythons have taken over the everglades.

  • Australian Pine (Casuarina equisetifolia)

    A-pine for short, yet not even a true pine. Leaves chemicals to inbit undergrowth of other plants. Easily uprooted.

  • Carrotwood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides)

    If you have a carrotwood, you have many carrotwoods. The seeds inside the orange fruit germinates readily.

  • Chinese Tallow Tree

    Chinese Tallow (Sapium sebiferum)

    The tallow tree has a leaf similar in appearance to an Indian rosewood.

  • Bischofia (Bischofia javanica)

    Bischofia, often called bishopwood tree is fast growing noxious weed.

  • Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin)

    The feather leaves appear similar to jacaranda and royal poincianas. Don’t let the similarity fool you. This tree is a nuisance tree.

  • Invasive Camphor Tree Sarasota

    Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora)

    Camphor tree is easily identified by breaking open the leaf and smelling the camphor oil which smells like Vic’s vapor rub.