Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Brazilian Pepper Eradication

This summer Olde Florida Golf Club initiated a property wide Brazilian pepper eradication project. To insure quick and complete eradication of the species a contractor was hired. All of the Brazilian pepper will be cut at the base of the tree and the plant material chipped and dispersed on the forest floor. The stump will be treated with a non-selective herbicide to prevent regrowth.


Brazilian pepper is one of the most aggressive and widespread of the invasive non-indigenous exotic pest plants in Florida. It is estimated that over 700,000 acres in the state are infested with Brazilian pepper.
Brazilian pepper produces a dense canopy that shades out all other plants and provides a very poor habitat for native species. Brazilian pepper invades aquatic as well as terrestrial habitats, greatly reducing the quality of native biotic communities. In part, the invasiveness of the Brazilian pepper can be attributed to the high germination rate of the seed. Birds and mammals are the primary mechanisms for dispersal of the fruit/seed.

One of the benefits of the removal of the Brazilian pepper is that it will allow native species to return. The cover from the native plant community will help suppress the return of the Brazilian pepper. However because of the rapid growth and high germination rates the club will begin a contracted annual inspection and removal program.



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