42​​​​​​​​​​​picture of downy rose myrtle plantThe 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 passed ordinances to deal with this growing problem. Include​d 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 map which identified invasive exotic plants or invasive exotic pla​nt 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 Lan​d 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​CLICK Picture TO ENLARGE
​​air potato​Dioscorea alatapicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant species
​Australian pines​​Casuarina speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant species
​bishopwood​Bischofia javanicapicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant species
​Brazilian pepper, Florida holly​Schinus terebinthifoliuspicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant species
​carrotwood​Cupianopsis anacardioidespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant species
​Chinese tallow​Sapium sebiferumpicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant species
​cork tree​Thespesia populneapicture of invasive exotic plant species
​Cuban laurel fig​​Ficus retusapicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant species
​downy rose myrtle​Rhodomyrtus tomentosuspicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant species
​earleaf acacia​Acacia auriculiformispicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant species
​Japanese climbing fern​Lygodium japonicum
​Java plum​Syzygium cuminipicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant species
​Melaleuca, paper tree​Melaleuca quinquenerviapicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant species
​murray red gum​Eucalyptus camaldulensispicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant species
​Old World climbing fern​Lygodium microphyllumpicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant species

​​rose apple

​Syzygium jambos​​picture of invasive exotic plant species
​rosewood​Dalbergia sissoopicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant species
​tropical soda apple​Solanum viarumpicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant species
​Wedelia​Wedelia trilobatapicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant species
​weeping fig​Ficus benjaminapicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant species
​woman's tongue​Albizia lebbeckpicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant speciespicture of invasive exotic plant species

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