Bracken Fern (Pteridium acquilinum) – A large deciduous fern that grows everywhere in the world except for the hot and cold deserts and Antarctica. As ferns, brackens do not have...
Downy Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) - One of the first plants to burst into bloom each year, this small woody tree gets its name from the downy silvery-colored leaves. The “serviceberry”...
Florida Rosemary (Ceratiola ericoides) – This smaller ornamental shrub is not related to the edible herb rosemary, although they are similar in appearance. It grows only in a scrub environment...
Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) – An evergreen tree that can reach heights of more than 100 feet. Longleaf pine forests once covered most of the southeast with some specimens as...
Sand Pine, Scrub Pine (Pinus clausa) – An evergreen that grows from 25-40 feet tall. Shorter needles than the longleaf pine (2-3 1/2) and small cones grow in clusters. Grows...
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) – A small fan palm that grows up to 6’. The fruit is a large reddish-black drupe (a fleshy fruit with thin skin and a seed)....
Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) – A nearly evergreen tree that reaches heights of 50 feet, identified by its impressive size and horizontal branching. Often festooned with Spanish Moss and...
Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) – This magnificent evergreen tree grows up to 80 feet tall with its shiny green leaves and dinner plate-sized fragrant white flowers. An excellent shade tree...
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) – A woody, prolific climbing vine, the creeper may kill other vegetation by covering it and cutting the other plants’ ability to photosynthesize. Dark blue berries...
Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera) – This small tree or large shrub is adaptable to many habitats, growing naturally in wetlands, near flowing bodies of water, sand dunes, fields, hillsides, pine...
Winged Sumac (Rhus copallinum) – A small tree or shrub that grows best in open areas, along roadsides or disturbed ground. It is prized for ornamental planting because of its...
Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) – An evergreen shrub that can reach 25 feet, growing in coastal areas in well-drained, sandy soil. The holly can be found on the upper edges...
Most Invasive Plant Species
Aggressive non-native plant species are among the greatest current threats to biological diversity along the Pensacola Scenic Highway corridor. These plants are able to spread rapidly and outcompete, and in some cases directly kill, native plant species. This is a clear threat to plant diversity, but also creates serious problems for native animals, which are not adapted to life in these new conditions. For more information about how to eradicate non-native invasive species from your property, please contact the Escambia County Extension Agent at (850) 475-5230.
Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense) – Chinese Privet is a semi-evergreen to evergreen flowering shrub of the olive family and has traditionally been used as an ornamental throughout the southern states....
Chinese Tallow Tree/Popcorn Tree (Triadica sebifera) – Chinese Tallow, also known as Popcorn Tree, Chicken Tree, Vegetable Tallow, Florida Aspen, or White Wax Berry, was introduced from Southeast Asia, where...
Common Reed (Phragmites spp.) – Native Americans used common reed for arrow shafts, musical instruments, ceremonial objects, cigarettes, and leaves and stems for constructing mats. In coastal areas, preserved rhizome...