FNGA Urges Growers to Phase Out Invasive Plants

Orlando-The Florida Nurserymen and Growers Association (FNGA) is urging nursery growers to phase out production of 11 commercially grown plants thought to be invasive.

FNGA, in cooperation with the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC), is asking nursery growers to stop propagating, selling, and using 11 species after joint talks have resulted in agreement that the plants are invasive in Florida.

Invasive plants are becoming an epidemic problem in some natural areas of Florida. More than 1,000 plants growing in the wild in Florida are non-native. FLEPPC has identified about ten per cent of these that are highly aggressive and have displaced native species due to lack of natural pests and controls. The 11 species identified by the two groups are relatively minor commercial production plants in the Florida nursery market.

According to Ben Bolusky, FNGA Executive Vice President, "Nursery growers in this state have a very good record of environmental responsibility, and recognizing which plants are becoming potential ecological problems. We look forward to continuing the invasive species dialogue and to doing what's right for Florida."

FLEPPC Chair Tony Pernas said, "Our organization is pleased to be working with FNGA to identify several non-native species that have ecological effects and should no longer be commercially available. We appreciate this productive relationship that is taking a pro-active approach to addressing the invasive species problem."

Over the years, plants now becoming invasive have been introduced by the government for erosion control, forage, and other agricultural uses, by nursery growers for their horticultural value and through accidental introduction. Widely known invasive plants are Brazilian Pepper, Australian pine, Chinese tallow, hydrilla and melaleuca.

In response to the significant management challenges and expense of controlling numerous invasive non-native species in natural habitats, public land managers in several states and regions have established Exotic Pest Plant Councils, with the first being founded in Florida in 1984. FLEPPC's membership numbers more than 300 public and private land managers, university faculty, citizens, and businesses. FNGA represents Florida's leading 1,900 nursery growers, landscape professionals, garden center retailers and allied suppliers.

Several meetings of the FNGA\FLEPPC ad hoc group focused on plants identified as "invasive, economically important" horticultural species. Discussions identified plant species that had become established in natural areas; the mode of spread and reproduction of the plant; specific varieties of a particular species that are invasive (where differences among varieties exist); and potential alternative plants to be substituted for the highly invasive ones.

Twenty-four plant species were identified by FLEPPC as being both invasive and available in the horticultural trade. Through dialogue with FNGA nursery growers, 11 of the 24 were identified as being of relatively minor value in the current market.

The 11 plants are Albizia lebbeck (Woman's tongue), Bauhinia variegata (Orchid tree), Bischofia javanica (Bischofia), Cupaniopsis anacardioides (Carrotwood), Macfadyena unguis-cati (Cat's claw vine), Melia azedarach (Chinaberry), Nephrolepsis cordifolia (Sword fern), Psidium guajava (Guava), Rhoeo spathacea (Oyster plant - large variety), Syzgium cumini (Java plum; jambolan), and Thespesia populnea (Seaside mahoe).

Due to conservation problems associated with these species and their limited economic significance to the industry, FNGA recommends these 11 species no longer be propagated, grown or marketed in Florida. For other species, which may also threaten conservation areas and are economically important to the industry, further recommendations are pending until information being developed by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Regional recommendations also may be developed as a result of that information.

The Florida Nurserymen & Growers Association represents Florida's environmental horticulture industry, with a value added economic impact of $5.3 billion. For more information, contact FNGA at 1533 Park Center Drive, Orlando, Fla. 32835 or call 407/295-7994; e-mail FNGA(at)aol.com; http://www.fnga.org.