Invasive Exotic Plant Species to be Removed

The Lee County Board of County Commissioners has long recognized the problems invasive exotic plants have had on the ecosystems in Lee County. Starting in 1982, the Commissioners have passed ordinances to deal with this growing problem. Included in Ordinance No. 82-42 (which established the Lee County Development Standards Regulations) was the prohibition of the use of melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia), Australian pine (Casuarina species), and Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) for landscaping requirements.
 

Ordinance No. 90-06 required the removal of these species from provided open space areas for all developments that received final development order approval after March 5, 1990. An invasive exotic vegetation removal and maintenance plan was required for development order approval. The applicant had to include a tree location graphic or map which identifies invasive exotic plants or invasive exotic plant masses as to the particular species, native plants and plant masses, and a plan to remove invasive exotic vegetation so as to preserve native trees and understory. The plan also required a commitment to maintain these areas free from invasive exotics in perpetuity.

Per Lee County Land Development Code Section 10-420 (h), the following highly invasive exotic plants may not be planted (ie, are prohibited) and must be removed from the development area. Methods to remove and control invasive exotic plants must be included on the development order plans. A statement must also be included on the development order that the development area will be maintained free from invasive exotic plants in perpetuity. For the purposes of this subsection, invasive exotic plants include:

Common Name	Scientific Name	Pictures
air potato	Dioscorea alata
Australian pines	Casuarina species
bishopwood	Bischofia javanica
Brazilian pepper, Florida holly	Schinus terebinthifolius
carrotwood	Cupianopsis anacardioides
Chinese tallow	Sapium sebiferum
cork tree	Thespesia populnea
Cuban laurel fig	Ficus retusa
downy rose myrtle	Rhodomyrtus tomentosus
earleaf acacia	Acacia auriculiformis
Japanese climbing fern	Lygodium japonicum
Java plum	Syzygium cumini
Melaleuca, paper tree	Melaleuca quinquenervia
murray red gum	Eucalyptus camaldulensis
Old World climbing fern	Lygodium microphyllum
rose apple	Syzygium jambos
rosewood	Dalbergia sissoo
tropical soda apple	Solanum viarum
Wedelia	Wedelia trilobata
weeping fig	Ficus benjamina
woman's tongue	Albizia lebbeck

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