EPPO Global Database

EPPO Reporting Service no. 11 - 2019 Num. article: 2019/246

Invasion risk of ornamental plants marketed in Spain


Horticulture is a major pathway for the introduction of non-native plant species.  Some of these species may become invasive in areas where they are introduced.  In Spain, there are an estimated 914 commercial ornamental outdoor plant species sold, of which 700 are non-native marketed species. The current study evaluated the potential of invasiveness for these species using an adaption of the Australian Weed Risk Assessment protocol.  Using this tool, an ‘Attention list’ was compiled which includes 68 plant species that are commercially available in Spain.  All species are climatically suitable for Spain, non-regulated and invasive or potentially invasive (Table 1). In addition, a green list of 7 species which are not climatically suitable or invasive elsewhere was produced, along with a watch list of 27 species (with varying levels of impact) and an uncertainty list of 161 species.  Finally, a priority list of 8 species which are regulated either by the Spanish Catalogue of Non-native Invasive Species or the List of Invasive Alien Species of Union concern (EU) but still commercially available in nurseries, was established (Acacia dealbata, Agave americana, Ailanthus altissima, Buddleja davidii, Cortaderia selloana, Opuntia ficus-indica, Pennisetum setaceum and Tradescantia fluminensis).

 

Table 1. Spanish ‘Attention list’ of 68 plant species.


Species

Family

Origin

Status 

Acacia longifolia

Fabaceae

Australia 

Invasive 

Acacia saligna*

Fabaceae

Australia 

Invasive 

Adiantum raddianum

Pteridaceae

S. America

Naturalised

Agave sisalana

Agavaceae

S. America

Invasive 

Albizia julibrissin

Fabaceae

Asia

Naturalised

Allamanda cathartica

Apocynaceae

S. America

Absent natural environment

Alocasia macrorrhizos

Araceae

Asia

Absent natural environment

Annona cherimola

Annonaceae

S. America

Naturalised

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana

Arecaceae

Australia 

Absent natural environment

Atriplex semibaccata

Amaranthaceae

Australia 

Naturalised

Bacopa monnieri

Plantaginaceae

N. Am, S. Am,

Naturalised

Berberis thunbergii

Berberidaceae

Asia

Absent natural environment

Bidens aurea

Asteraceae

N. America

Invasive 

Broussonetia papyrifera

Moraceae

Asia

Naturalised

Canna indica

Cannaceae

S. America

Naturalised

Casuarina equisetifolia

Casuarinaceae

Australia 

Casual

Cereus uruguayanus

Cactaceae

S. America

Casual

Cestrum nocturnum

Solanaceae

S. America

Casual

Cinnamomum camphora

Lauraceae

Asia

Absent natural environment

Cornus sericea

Cornaceae

N. America

Absent natural environment

Cotoneaster horizontalis

Rosaceae

Asia

Absent natural environment

Elaeagnus angustifolia

Elaeagnaceae

Asia

Invasive 

Eucalyptus globulus

Myrtaceae

Australia 

Invasive 

Eucalyptus sideroxylon

Myrtaceae

Australia 

Casual

Eugenia uniflora

Myrtaceae

S. America

Casual

Euonymus fortunei

Celastraceae

Asia

Absent natural environment

Ficus pumila

Moraceae

Asia

Naturalised

Ficus rubiginosa

Moraceae

Australia 

Naturalised

Gleditsia triacanthos

Fabaceae

N. America

Invasive 

Grevillea robusta

Proteaceae

Australia 

Casual

Gypsophila paniculata

Caryophyllaceae

Asia/ Europe

Casual

Imperata cylindrica

Poaceae

Asia

Naturalised

Kalanchoe daigremontiana

Crassulaceae

Africa  

Casual

Lantana camara

Verbenaceae

S. America

Invasive 

Leptospermum scoparium

Myrtaceae

Australia 

Absent natural environment

Leucaena leucocephala

Fabaceae

N. America

Invasive 

Lonicera japonica

Caprifoliaceae

Asia

Invasive 

Lupinus polyphyllus

Fabaceae

N. America

Naturalised

Melia azedarach

Meliaceae

Asia/ Australia

Naturalised

Miscanthus sinensis

Poaceae

Asia

Casual

Morus nigra

Moraceae

Asia

Casual

Nandina domestica

Berberidaceae

Asia

Casual

Nymphaea odorata

Nymphaeaceae

N. America

Absent natural environment

Passiflora caerulea

Passifloraceae

S. America

Invasive 

Paulownia tomentosa

Paulowniaceae

Asia

Casual

Pennisetum villosum

Poaceae

Africa

Naturalised

Phoenix canariensis

Arecaceae

Africa

Naturalised

Phormium tenax

Xanthorrhoeaceae

Pacific

Invasive 

Phragmites australis

Poaceae

N. America

Naturalised

Physalis angulata

Solanaceae

Americas

Absent natural environment

Physalis peruviana

Solanaceae

S. America

Casual

Pinus radiata

Pinaceae

N. America

Casual

Portulaca oleracea

Portulacaceae

Africa / Europe

Casual

Prunus serotina

Rosaceae

N. America

Casual

Psidium cattleianum

Myrtaceae

S. America

Naturalised

Psidium guajava

Myrtaceae

N. America

Invasive 

Rhus typhina

Anacardiaceae

N. America

Naturalised

Robinia pseudoacacia

Fabaceae

N. America

Invasive 

Sansevieria trifasciata

Asparagaceae

Africa

Naturalised

Sesbania punicea

Fabaceae

S. America

Casual

Spiraea japonica

Rosaceae

Asia

Casual

Stenotaphrum secundatum

Poaceae

Africa

Invasive 

Tagetes minuta

Asteraceae

N. America

Naturalised

Tecoma stans

Bignoniaceae

Americas

Casual

Wisteria sinensis

Fabaceae

Asia

Casual

Yucca aloifolia

Agavaceae

N. America

Casual

Zantedeschia aethiopica

Araceae

Africa

Casual

Ziziphus jujuba

Rhamnaceae

Asia

Naturalised

* As of July 2019, A. saligna was added to the List of Invasive alien species of Union concern (EU) and thus is regulated in the EU (EPPO RS 2019/174).  


Sources

Bayόn A, Vilá M (2019) Horizon scanning to identify invasion risk of ornamental plants marketed in Spain. NeoBiota, 52, 47-86.