Mimosa strigillosa

Try these alternatives to common invasive species

Pictured above: Powderpuff (Mimosa strigillosa) is a great native groundcover alternative. Photo by Lisa Roberts

Florida is uniquely varied in its climate and growing conditions, allowing for a huge variety of plants to thrive. But some of the plants that are common to our home landscapes are actually invasive species, many of which are now widespread in Florida’s natural areas. Removing these species from your landscape and replacing them with native alternatives can help prevent the spread of invasive species and will provide suitable food and cover for native wildlife.

There are many native plant alternatives to common invasive exotic landscape plants. Here are just a few of the recommended alternatives commonly sold exotic invasive species:

Consider these native groundcovers…

Dune sunflower bloom
Photo: Stacey Matrazzo


Recommended:
Dune sunflower (Helianthus debilis)

Read more about Dune sunflower.

Click here to find a nursery in your area that sells Dune sunflower.

Blue-eyed grass bloom
Photo: Mary Keim


Recommended:
Blue-eyed grass (Sisrynchium angustifolium)

Read more about Blue-eyed grass.

Click here to find a nursery in your area that sells Blue-eyed grass.

Mimosa strigillosa
Photo: Lisa Roberts


Recommended:
Powderpuff (Mimosa strigillosa)

Read more about Powderpuff.

Click here to find a nursery in your area that sells Powderpuff.

Beach verbena, Glandularia marítima
Photo: Andrea England


Recommended:
Beach verbena (Glandularia maritima)

Read more about Beach verbena.

Click here to find a nursery in your area that sells Beach verbena.

…instead of these invasive species.

Wedelia
Photo: Hans Hillewaert (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Avoid: Cat II Invasive
Creeping oxeye 
(Wedelia trilobata, syn. Sphagneticola trilobata)

Lantana camara
Photo: Stacey Matrazzo

Avoid: Cat I Invasive
Lantana 
(Lantana camara)

Mexican petunia
Photo: Pinus (CC)

Avoid: Cat I Invasive
Mexican petunia 
(Ruellia simplex, 
syn. Ruellia brittoniana)

Consider these native flowering shrubs…

Walter's viburnum flower
Photo: Mary Keim


Recommended:
Walter’s viburnum (Viburnum obovatum)

Read more about Walter’s viburnum.

Click here to find a nursery in your area that sells Walter’s viburnum.

Simpson's stopper, Myrcianthes fragrans
Photo: Jenny Evans


Recommended:
Simpson’s stopper (Myrcianthes fragrans)

Read more about Simpson’s stopper.

Click here to find a nursery in your area that sells Simpson’s stopper.

Chapman's senna, Senna mexicana var. chapmanii
Photo: Andrea Salas


Recommended:
Chapman’s senna (Senna mexicana var. chapmanii)

Read more about Chapman’s senna.

Click here to find a nursery in your area that sells Chapman’s senna.

Cloudless sulphur caterpillar on privet senna
Photo: Peg Urban


Recommended:
Privet senna (Senna ligustrina)

Read more about Privet senna.

Click here to find a nursery in your area that sells Privet senna.

Photo: Jenny Evans


Recommended:
Wild coffee (Psychotria nervosa)

Read more about Wild coffee.

Click here to find a nursery in your area that sells Wild coffee.

Marlberry, Ardisia escallonidides
Photo: Ryan Fessenden


Recommended:
Marlberry (Ardisia escallonoides)

Read more about Marlberry.

Click here to find a nursery in your area that sells Marlberry.

… instead of these invasive species.

Coral ardisia, Ardisia crenata
Photo: Daderot

Avoid: Cat I Invasive
Coral ardisia (Ardisia crenata)

Surinam cherry, Eugenia uniflora
Photo: Hans Hillewaert (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Avoid: Cat I Invasive
Surinam cherry (Eugenia uniflora)

Heavenly bamboo, Nandina domestica
Photo: Lazaregagnidze (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Avoid: Cat I Invasive
Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica)

Climbing cassia, Senna pendula var. glabra
Photo: Forest and Starr (CC BY 2.0)

Avoid: Cat I Invasive
Climbing cassia (Senna pendula var. glabra)

Consider these native flowering vines…

Climbing aster flower
Photo: Mary Keim


Recommended:
Climbing aster (Symphyotrichum carolinianum)

Read more about Climbing aster.

Click here to find a nursery in your area that sells Climbing aster.

Coral honeysuckle flowers
Photo: Terry Zinn


Recommended:
Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)

Read more about Coral honeysuckle.

Click here to find a nursery in your area that sells Coral honeysuckle.

American wisteria flowers
Photo: Shirley Denton


Recommended:
American wisteria (Wisteria frutescens)

Read more about American wisteria.

Click here to find a nursery in your area that sells American wisteria.

…instead of these invasive species.

Japanese honeysuckle
Photo: Jon Sullivan (CC BY 2.0)

Avoid: Cat I Invasive
Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

Chinese wisteria, Wisteria sinensis
Photo: Flyax (CC BY 3.0)

Avoid: Cat II Invasive
Chinese wisteria (Wisteria sinensis)

Consider these native grasses…

Hairyawn muhlygrass
Photo: Bill Randolph


Recommended:
Muhlygrass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)

Read more about American wisteria.

Click here to find a nursery in your area that sells Coral honeysuckle.

Elliott's lovegrass, Eragrostis elliottii
Elliott’s lovegrass. Photo: Mary Keim


Recommended:

Elliott’s lovegrass (Eragrostis elliottii)
Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis )

Click here to find a nursery in your area that sells Elliott’s lovegrass.
Click here to find a nursery in your area that sells Purple lovegrass.

…instead of these invasive species.

Purple fountain grass, Pennisetum purpureum
Photo: Forest and Kim Starr (CC BY 3.0)

Avoid: Cat I Invasive
Napier, elephant or purple fountain grass (Cenchrus setaceus)

Green fountain grass, Pennisetum setaceum
Photo: Lazaregagnidze (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Avoid: Cat II Invasive
Fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum)

Remember to choose native plants that are best suited for your region and growing conditions. Visit our  Learn to Grow page for resources to help you select the right plant for your landscape.

Resources