Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 January 2017
Coral ardisia (Ardisia crenata) has been present in Florida for more than 100 yr as an ornamental and has become invasive in hammocks of natural areas. This plant forms dense understory cover, often greater than 90%, which can suppress native plant recruitment and growth. Results from herbicide trials at two sites in Florida indicate that a single foliar treatment applied as a spot application of triclopyr amine, triclopyr ester, glyphosate, imazapic, dicamba, triclopyr amine + imazapic, or triclopyr ester + fluroxypyr reduced Ardisia crenata to less than 13% at 12 mo after treatment (MAT). A single treatment of imazapic (2.4 g ae L−1) or imazapic (2.4 g ae L−1) + triclopyr (10.8 g ae L−1) reduced cover of mature plants to less than 0.5% and seedlings to less than or equal to 4% at 12 MAT. Native plant cover was less than 5% prior to treatment indicating that dense infestations of Ardisia crenata may suppress native vegetation. In the dense infestations of Ardisia crenata observed in this study, nontarget damage was not a concern due to the rarity of native plants. However, applicators should use caution applying triclopyr and imazapic when small shrubs and trees are present in the treatment area. Additional follow-up treatments will be required for control of seedling and possible resprouts at 12 MAT.