Invasive plant species can cause damage to both your property and the surrounding ecosystem, making it critical to understand these species and keep them from your property. In this blog post, Port Orange’s tree removal experts discuss common invasive trees in Florida and their negative impacts. Keep reading for more information.
Brazilian Pepper
Brazilian pepper trees belong to the same family as poison sumac, poison oak, and poison ivy, which causes red, swollen skin, blisters, or severe itching when it comes into contact with your skin.
Some individuals have reported respiratory issues during the Brazillian pepper’s bloom period. This invasive non-native plant came from Brazil in the mid-1800s for use as an ornamental shrub mainly due to its festive red berries.
The tree thrived in Florida’s warm climate and rapidly spread beyond gardens and into the native landscape. You can find it as far west as Santa Rosa County and as far north as St. Johns County.
The major downsides of Brazillian pepper trees are that they crowd out native species and provide poor habitats for wildlife. Florida law prohibits cultivating, transplanting, or transporting these invasive shrubs.
Camphor Trees
These popular ornamental trees originate from China and typically grow huge. You can easily identify them with their soft green leaves and sweet-scented flowers.
Their biggest disadvantage is that they can quickly dominate other vegetation in your environment if you don’t trim them frequently. Moreover, camphor trees usually have extensive root networks that can damage your landscape or pose a tripping hazard.
To avoid these issues, you should limit planting these trees in your yard and prune them regularly to keep them small.
Melaleuca Trees
This tree species comes from Australia. It arrived in the U.S. toward the end of the 19th Century and is one of the most common invasive trees in Florida and other parts of the country.
It multiplies rapidly, producing as many as a million seeds annually, making it challenging to control. These invasive exotic plants feature a distinctive peeling bark that exhibits yellowish or white wood underneath.
Australian Pine
Many Florida homeowners avoid Australian pines because of their rapid growth and aggressive spreading. These invasive trees thrive in sandy, salty, and swampy environments and can quickly colonize areas where a hurricane has destroyed native species.
Australian pines have shallow root systems, making them susceptible to toppling over in heavy storms. This weakness makes them a hazard to people, property, and evacuation routes during hurricanes.
Contact Your Local Tree Experts for Assistance
If you have any invasive trees growing in your yard and affecting your native trees, the experts from Dead or Alive Tree Service LLC, your trusted local arborists, can help you address the problem. We offer a wide range of tree care services and have over ten years of experience dealing with invasive trees in Florida. Contact us at (386) 333-2252 for a free estimate or to learn the reasons to remove a tree from your yard.