You may have heard of “No Mow March” – well, for the Sea Grant Program in Escambia County April is when we focus on managing invasive plants – what it is called the “Weed Wrangle”. Each year across the country communities hold Weed Wrangles to manage selected invasive plants or maybe focus on selected parks. For us here in Escambia County Sea Grant focuses on a specific plant that has invaded our beaches – beach vitex.
Photo: Rick O’Connor
Beach vitex (Vitex rotundifolia) is an invasive coastal plant from Asia. It was first brought to the U.S. as an ornamental plant, but when it was used for dune restoration in the Carolina’s it showed its invasive behavior. The first reported infestation in Florida was in 2007 on St. George Island near Apalachicola. It was first reported in Escambia County in 2012. We have been trying to remove the plant ever since.
There are currently 109 sites in the Pensacola area. 69 (63%) have been reported from Pensacola Beach. 24 records are from Naval Live Oaks near Gulf Breeze, 7 records from Navarre Beach, 4 from Perdido Key, 3 from Gulf Breeze, and 2 from Perdido Bay. 25 are within Gulf Islands National Seashore and are being managed by the National Park Service. Of the remaining 84 records, 47 are on private property, 30 are on public lands, and the ownership of the 7 in Navarre Beach is unknown. Due to the higher numbers on Pensacola Beach, our focus for Weed Wrangle has been there over the years.
On Pensacola Beach there are 69 records. 63 (91%) are located east of Casino Beach, between Casino Beach and Park East. 36 are located north of Via DeLuna, 27 south of this road. 23 of these are on public land, 40 are on private property. Volunteer teams from Gulf Breeze High School and the University of West Florida have been helping for several years to manage the plants on public land. We really need the help of private property owners to manage this plant.
Photo: Molly O’Connor
During this year’s Weed Wrangle, UWF and GBHS will once again remove and treat as many plants as they can on public land. If you are property owner on Pensacola Beach, Gulf Breeze, Navarre Beach, Perdido Key, or Perdido Bay and would like advice on how to identify and remove this invasive plant from your property, contact Rick O’Connor at the Escambia County Extension Office. Let’s try to eradicate this plant from our beaches.
Rick O’Connor
850-475-5230; roc1@ufl.edu.
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