New Smyrna Beach: New Construction and Native Plants

This past weekend, our local newspaper, the Daytona Beach News Journal had an article about how invading plants are destroying the native plants in New Smyrna Beach, FL.

As a REALTOR®, it's always a concern when anything in my work area is having a problem. New Smyrna Beach is only 10-15 minutes south of my office, and I sell houses there quite frequently.

I thought I'd share some of the information I gleaned from the Daytona Beach News Journal, as well as add some of my own findings. In 2004, when hurricanes destroyed much of the Florida coastline, New Smyrna lost the most shoreline in this area. There were areas where you couldn't even walk on the beach, because so much erosion had occurred. The water came all the way up to the sea walls of the oceanfront hotels. I had a house listed in New Smryna Beach that was about one block from the ocean and my sellers were no longer able to enjoy their evening walk on the beach.

Now back to the plant problem. Beach erosion can be limited when there are enough native plants and shrubs growing in the sand. There are signs on New Smyrna beach that say "It Is Unlawful to Pick Sea Oats". Sea Oats are the best natural prevention of beach erosion. And this is one of the plants that is in jeopardy.

On the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council's list of Category 1 invasive plants, can be found

Lantana which originated in the West Indies

Wandering Jew which originated in Tropical South America,

 Brazilian Pepper which originated in South America

Para Grass which originated in Africa

 
Australian Pine which has it's origins in Australia, the South Pacific Islands & Southeast Asia.

The Council also has a Category 2 list with another 67 plant species that are not as big of a threat, but are still invasive. Both lists are updated every 2 years. Each of these Category 1 plants is a threat to other native plants in New Smyrna Beach because these particular plants cause ecological damage not only by displacing native species, but by actually changing the ecological functions of our native plants and by hybridizing with native species. And experts say that each of these plants have some kind of mechanism that makes them out-compete other plants. A chemical reaction occurs in the soil that prevents other plants from growing there. So the city of New Smyrna Beach has now placed these plants on a "Banned List".

The good news is, local nurseries are doing their part to educate their customers as to why they will no longer sell these plants, and are offering alternative landscaping. These local nurseries are also continually educating themselves, through the Florida Native Plant Society, which takes a holistic approach to educating consumers.

Local builders have also been notified of the problem and are now cooperating with city officials to plant only native plants when landscaping the new houses they sell. One local builder has said that they don't anticipate any problems with finding alternative landscaping. And home owners who are looking to replace existing plants, trees & shrubs will now be educated on this problem and will be given alternative options that in addition to correcting these existing problems, will also cut down on water usage, since native species also use less water.

Moving to New Smyrna Beach Florida? Make a Smart Choice and contact Lisa Hill for all your real estate needs.