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UF/IFAS Extension University of Florida

Plant This, Not That

Infographic about planting Florida-Friendly plants instead of invasives

Source

Infographic based on the book “Plant This, Not That: A Guide to Avoiding Invasive Plant Species in Florida” (SP 619), by Tina McIntyre, Rachel Gutner, Sandra Wilson, and Morgan Pinkerton. UF/IFAS Extension Seminole County. Available at IFASBooks.ufl.edu.

Don’t Let Your Landscape Be a Breeding Ground

The plants you bring home from garden centers and nurseries may look beautiful in your landscape, but you might be inviting non-native invasive species to escape your yard and quickly spread into other areas, becoming an ecological and economic nightmare.

  • Some common landscape plants that are invasive in Florida include wedelia, asparagus fern, and certain varieties of lantana.
  • Invasive plants can disrupt natural ecosystems, clog waterways, degrade natural resources and hinder agricultural production.
  • Non-native invasive plants, along with others, impact approximately 1.5 million acres of Florida.
  • Each year, the State of Florida spends more than $45 million on managing invasive plants.

What You Can Do

Learn which plants are invasive. The UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants is one of several excellent resources for checking a plant’s invasive status.

Remove invasive plants from your landscape. Try pulling them out by hand before attempting chemical methods. Be sure to bag and dispose of all plant debris in the trash to prevent cuttings and seeds from establishing elsewhere.

Plant native or non-invasive alternatives. Fortunately, there are many beautiful, Florida-Friendly alternative plants to choose from. Ask your local UF/IFAS Extension office for help in choosing safe alternatives.

Also on Gardening Solutions

More

  • Parrish, S. B., McIntyre, T., Pinkerton, M. G., & Wilson, S. B. (2023). Plant This Not That: A Tool for Improving Invasive Species Identification and Expanding the Use of Sustainable Alternatives in Florida, USA, Landscaping. HortTechnology, 33(5), 452-454. Retrieved Feb 25, 2025, from https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05277-23