Holiday Color in Our Wetlands

Recently several people have come to me, alarmed, to see the thousands of bright red berries of the invasive Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) growing in the wetlands along Collier County’s roadsides. While it is that time of year when the Brazilian pepper flushes with crimson fruits, it is not the only festive tree you’ll see growing in our low lying natural areas during the holidays. You may also be seeing dahoon holly (Ilex cassine), a small tree native to Florida and the Southeastern U.S. From a distance both species appear similar, bearing brightly colored fruit. However upon closer inspection the two are very different plants.

Brazilian pepper was originally imported to Florida as an ornamental in the mid-1800’s to be sold as "Florida holly". It has since become one of the worst invasive plants in the state, shading out hundreds of thousands of acres of native habitat. It produces a profuse amount of fruits that attract songbirds and other wildlife which can then spread the seeds across several miles. Once the plants get a foothold in an area, they produce a chemical that prevents the growth of other species, allowing them to outcompete native vegetation. The shrubs are often found growing in almost complete monocultures, leaving a habitat devoid of complex structure for wildlife. Brazilian pepper can be identified by its alternate, pinnately compound leaves that smell of turpentine when crushed. You must use caution, however, when handling the leaves as pepper is a member of the same family as poison ivy and may cause a skin rash.

The dahoon holly (pictured) is a small native tree that is also found growing in low moist areas. It usually forms the midstory component of a complex habitat with both accompanying overstory trees and groundcover. As a part of this complex habitat, it provides great cover for a variety of wildlife while producing fruits that attract songbirds, fowl, deer, and other small mammals. Dahoon holly can be identified by its stiff, shiny, simple, dark green leaves with pointed tips. Much like the Brazilian pepper, the dahoon holly is dioecious, meaning individual plants have either male or female flowers. It is the female of either species that produces the loads of red fruits. If you want to plant dahoon in your landscaping, be sure to select plants of both sexes to ensure the most color. You should also select plants for their color as the fruits can range from red to yellow to orange. While they are normally found growing in wetlands, dahoon holly can be planted in drier areas as a landscape plant if they are supplemented with irrigation.

Now that you know the important differences between dahoon holly and Brazilian pepper, see if you can spot the two as you see them in wetlands along our roadsides. And if you are thinking about a new tree for your home, consider planting a dahoon holly and you will be rewarded with holiday color each year while providing a great source of food and cover for our native wildlife.