The Marion Gardener


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May 4, 2025

Understanding Native, Invasive, and Keystone Plants

Photo Credits: UF/IFAS

Florida's diverse ecosystems are home to a wide variety of plant species, each playing a unique role in maintaining ecological balance. When landscaping or managing natural areas, understanding the differences between native, invasive, and keystone plants is crucial for promoting biodiversity and protecting our environment.

Native plants are species that have evolved naturally in a specific region over thousands of years. In Florida, these plants have adapted to the local climate, soils, and wildlife. Because they are well-suited to their environment, native plants typically require less water, fertilizer, and pesticides than non-native species. They also provide essential habitat and food sources for native insects, birds, and other wildlife.

Coreopsis (left) is also known as Tickseed. It is Florida's native wildflower and you will see it all around roadsides at this time of year.

Coontie (Zamia integrifolia) (right) is a hardy cycad that supports the larvae of the rare Atala butterfly.

Both of these plants, and many other natives, will be available at our Spring Plant Sale - see flyer below

You can find the full list of available plants on our website:

Master Gardeners - Marion County - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences - UF/IFAS

Photo Credits: UF/IFAS

Invasive plants are non-native species that have been introduced to an area—often by human activity—and aggressively spread, displacing native vegetation. These plants can harm local ecosystems by outcompeting native species, altering soil chemistry, and disrupting the food web. In Florida, the warm climate allows many invasive species to thrive and spread rapidly.

Brazilian pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolia)-(left) is a fast-growing tree that forms dense thickets and displaces native plants.

Air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera) – (right) is a vine that smothers native vegetation by blocking sunlight.

Photo Credit (left) UF/IFAS/ (right) Pam Schmitt

Keystone plants are native species that provide critical support to local ecosystems, particularly for pollinators and wildlife. They often serve as host plants for caterpillars and are essential in the lifecycle of many insects, especially butterflies and moths.

Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) (left) - these trees support hundreds of butterfy and moth species, making them one of the most important keystone genera in North America.

Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) (right) is the sole host plant for monarch butterfly caterpillars

Including keystone plants in your landscape not only enhances biodiversity but also helps maintain the ecological web that supports birds, insects, and other wildlife.

Whether you're a gardener, land manager, or simply someone who cares about Florida's natural heritage, recognizing the difference between native, invasive, and keystone plants is key. By choosing native and keystone species and avoiding invasives, you help preserve Florida’s unique ecosystems for future generations.

Here are some reasons why the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) encourages us to leave the fallen leaves:

Provide habitat for wildlife: frogs, turtles, and salamanders rely on fallen leaves to provide cover and hibernation places

Many moth and butterfly caterpillars overwinter in fallen leaves before emerging in spring

Provide food for wildlife: creatures like earthworms and millipedes reside in and decompose leaf litter, and also are themselves a source of food for bigger wildlife like birds and toads

Increase fertility of your soil: as the leaves decompose, nutrients are added to your soil,and also allows for greater water retention.

Save hours of time that will be used raking leaves for weeks depending on number of trees in your yard.

Reduce waste since food and yard trimmings make up 28 percent of waste in landfills

Helpful links

UF/IFAS Extension Marion County Blog

UF/IFAS Marion County Master Gardeners Facebook Page

UF/IFAS Events Calendar

UF/IFAS Extension Marion County is a cooperation between the Marion County Board of County Commissioners and the University of Florida to deliver relevant, research-based education programs that result in healthy people, healthy environments and healthy economies.

UF/IFAS Extension Marion County

2232 NE Jacksonville Rd., Ocala
FL 34470 United States

352-671-8400

marion@ifas.ufl.edu

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