Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management AreaWORKING TO PROTECT THE EVERGLADES FROM INVASIVE SPECIES
Australia and Southeast Asia
Brought in late 1800s for ditch and canal stabilization, shade, and lumber
Long-term management
Australian pine is a deciduous tree that looks like a soft, wispy pine and grows to more than 100 feet tall. It has thin branchlets resembling pine needles, and tiny brown flowers. The reddish-brown bark is brittle and peels. Fruits are tiny nutlets contained in small, round, cone-like structures, 3/4 inches long.
Many people admire Australian pines and appreciate the shade they provide. However, the ecological harm and storm damage they cause overshadow their value as a shade tree.
Australian pines grow fast and form dense stands, shading out native plants that need sunlight to grow. Their shallow roots do not trap sand as native dune plants do, so they can increase beach erosion. They take over the nesting areas of endangered sea turtles and threatened American crocodiles. Fewer bird species nest in or eat from Australian pine compared to native trees. Australian pines frequently blow over during high winds, causing major damage during storm season.
Australian pines are a common sight along shorelines and in parks and natural areas throughout southern and central Florida. They are found in open, coastal habitats including sand beaches, rocky coasts, and sand dunes.
