Let’s start with the ugly. The melaleuca tree is a Category 1 Florida invasive plant. It threatens our native trees, especially the cypress tree, and interrupts the flow of storm water through our very important Everglades and wetlands. It originally was imported from Australia in 1887 as an ornamental tree. By the 1930s, its seeds were dropped by planes over the Everglades in an effort to drain the wetlands and create forests. It became even more popular in the 1970s when it was described by nurseries as an extremely fast-growing, wind resistant, shade tree. Unfortunately, it’s 20 million tiny seeds from each tree per year rapidly spread by wind, rain and fire. Over the years, the Melaleuca Tree invaded hundreds of thousands of acres, creating dense forests in wet areas threatening native plants and animals alike.

If that is not ugly enough, the bad news is that many of us see its creamy white bottlebrush-like flowers as something to admire. Please don’t be duped by this or the menthol fragrance from its crushed 5-inch-long, narrow and elliptically shaped leaves. Beware of this 80 to 100-foot-tall, evergreen tree with its peeling white, spongy bark that is known to grow 3 to 6 feet per year. Be alert to its aliases, commonly known as paper bark tea tree, white bottle brush tree, cajeput and punk tree. Approach this tree cautiously, as some claim its leaves contain an oil which may cause respiratory problems and skin eruptions.

Now for the good news. By the late 1990s, aggressive action was taken by federal and state agencies to eradicate the melaleuca tree using an integrated pest management approach or IPM. IPM is a multi-pronged approach involving, cultural, physical, biological and chemical controls.

A cultural control requires being mindful of what you are planting as a first step. Know your invasives! Don’t plant them! Physical controls involve spot checking your yard for invasives and removing them by hand or by mechanical means.

Biological controls release researched-based predatory insects known for attacking the specific invasive species. In this case, three predators were engaged in the fight: a foliage feeding weevil released in 1997; a sap feeding psyllid released in 2002; and a gall forming midge released in 2008. Although these biological agents cannot kill mature trees, they have created a substantial reduction in seed production, seedlings and field populations. Additionally, these agents have stressed the tree to make them more susceptible to fires and herbicides.

Herbicides, a chemical control, is best used sparingly and in a targeted approach as it can damage native species as well.

What more can a homeowner do? Stay vigilant! Remove invasives before they become unmanageable. Consider using melaleuca based mulch in your yard. Melaleuca mulch is heat processed to eliminate seeds. It is long lasting and termite resistant. Not only does it help eradicate invasive melaleuca trees, but it saves our native cypress trees.

Happy gardening and stay Florida Friendly!

Deborah Haggett is a member of the Garden Club of Cape Coral and a Lee County Master Gardener volunteer.

—

References:

Edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/AG/AG24100.pdf

www.ars.usda.gov/southeast-area/fort-lauderdale-fl/iprl/