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FACT SHEET: CARROTWOOD

Carrotwood 

Cupaniopsis anacardioides (A. Rich.) Radlkf. 

Soapberry family (Sapindaceae) 

NATIVE RANGE 

Australia, Irian Jaya (Indonesia) and Papua New Guinea 

DESCRIPTION 

Carrotwood is a fast-growing evergreen tree that grows to a height of 

about 35 feet. The leaves are large and compound, made up of four to 

ten oblong leaflets, each 4 to 8 inches long, and attached by a swollen 

stalk. Leaflet edges tend to be wavy with rounded tips that are often 

indented. Leaves alternate along the stems. In Florida, flowering 

occurs in the winter, from January to March. Clusters of small, 

greenish-white flowers are borne on stalks that emerge from leaf axils. 

Flowers are unisexual, with each flower cluster containing both male 

and female flowers. The brightly colored fruit is a yellow, three-lobed capsule which, when ripe (May to June) splits open 

to expose three shiny black seeds encased in red or orange fleshy tissue. 

NOTICE: As of July 1999, carrotwood has been added to the State of Florida List of Noxious Weeds. 

ECOLOGICAL THREAT 

While carrotwood invades a variety of natural communities, including dunes, coastal strand, sand pine scrub, slash pine 

flatwoods, cypress swamps, freshwater marshes and river banks, it poses a special threat to coastal ecosystems like 

mangrove swamps and tropical hammocks. Coastal plant communities provide crucial erosion control, water quality 

benefits, and food and shelter for wildlife. Once introduced, carrotwood forms dense monocultures, crowding out and outcompeting native plants for available light and nutrients. 

Because mangroves provide critical habitat for wading and diving birds, some of which are designated Species of Special 

Concern, and serve as nursery grounds for crabs, other crustaceans, invertebrates and commercial and recreational fish, 

the impacts of carrotwood establishment are serious and far-reaching. Coastal hammocks and mangroves are continually 

losing ground to development and are also impacted by natural forces such as tropical storms and hurricanes. Alteration 

of species composition and competition by invasive exotic species increases stress to the remaining hammocks. Because 

carrotwood is a popular, fast-growing landscape tree that is widely planted and very adaptable, the impacts to mangroves 

and other habitats are expected to increase. Carrotwood has also been found growing among other aggresive, invasive 

exotic trees. 

DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES 

As of 1996, carrotwood has been documented to occur in natural areas in 

fourteen Florida counties, from Brevard and Hillsborough counties, southward. 

The current distribution of carrotwood parallels that of mangrove tree species. 

While naturalized carrotwood infestations are limited primarily to coastal areas, 

inland populations are beginning to surface. Carrotwood has also been used 

ornamentally in California, but there are no reports of naturalized populations 

there, perhaps due to their drier climate. Cold tolerance may limit its potential 

distribution. According to one reference, carrotwood is able to withstand 

temperatures to about 22 F (-6 C). Test specimens in northern Florida, 

however, have withstood winters at least that cold. 

HABITAT IN THE UNITED STATES 

Tolerant of salt, poor soils, poor drainage, sunlight and shade, carrotwood can adapt to dry areas, and appears in 

disturbed and undisturbed sites. As a result, carrotwood inhabits a variety of habitats including coastal hammocks, dunes, 
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Plant Conservation Alliance®s Alien Plant Working Group 

Xeeds HoneXild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas 

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/

coastal strand, sand pine scrub, slash pine flatwoods, mangrove swamps, cypress swamps, freshwater marshes and river 

banks. 

BACKGROUND 

University of Florida Herbarium specimens document carrotwood 

cultivation as early as 1955 in eastern Florida. A separate 

introduction in Sarasota, Florida in 1968 resulted in large scale 

propagation and use as an ornamental tree. Carrotwood became a 

popular landscape tree throughout southern Florida in the late 

1970s and early 1980s. By 1990, wild carrotwood seedlings began 

to be seen in the wild in various habitats. 

BIOLOGY & SPREAD 

Carrotwood is a prolific seed producer, and the brightly colored 

fruits are very attractive to birds which disperse it widely. Bird 

dispersal explains isolated island populations and seedlings under 

trees and telephone poles. Seedlings have also been found along 

estuary rack lines. Clumps of seedlings suggest dispersal by small 

mammals. In its native range, carrotwood is pollinated by bees, 

which are the likely pollinators in Florida. 

MANAGEMENT OPTIONS 

No biological control is available at this time. Chemical control is the most common and effective method of control. 

Triclopyr (e.g., Garlon®) has proved effective as a basal bark treatment and cut stump treatment. Glyphosate (e.g., 

Rodeo®) is marginally successful, and usually requires retreatment. Care must be taken in mangrove and wetland areas 

to avoid impacts to sensitive flora and fauna by use of chemicals or heavy equipment. As a preventive measure, a few 

counties and municipalities have ordinances restricting use of carrotwood. 

USE PESTICIDES WISELY: Always read the entire pesticide label carefully, follow all mixing and application instructions and wear all 

recommended personal protective gear and clothing. Contact your state department of agriculture for any additional pesticide use 

requirements, restrictions or recommendations. 

NOTICE: mention of pesticide products on this page does not constitute endorsement of any material.

CONTACTS 

For more information on the management of carrotwood, please contact: 

• Ed Freeman, Natural Resources Department, Resource Management Division 1301, Cattlemen Road Sarasota, 

FL 34232, (941) 378-6142; efreeman at co.sarasota.fl.us 

• Chris Lockhart, Habitat Specialists Inc. http://www.lockharts.org/Habitat_Specialists; chris at lockharts.org 

• Roger Clark, Lee County Parks and Recreation; rogersclark at juno.com 

SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE PLANTS 

Many native trees make good landscape substitutes for carrotwood. In southern Florida, alternatives include paradise tree 

(Simarouba glauca), pigeon plum (Coccoloba diversifolia), Jamaican dogwood (Piscidia piscipula), and inkwood (Exothea 

paniculata). In northern and central Florida, there's loblolly bay (Gordonia lasianthus), laurel cherry (Prunus carolinana) 

and magnolias (Magnolia virginiana or M. grandiflora). Dahoon holly (Ilex casseine) has a broad range and colorful red 

fruit. 

OTHER LINKS 

• http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/images/thumbnails/html/cupaniopsis_anacardioides.htm

AUTHOR 

Chris Lockhart, Habitat Specialists, Inc., Boynton Beach, FL 

EDITOR 

Jil M. Swearingen, National Park Service, Washington, DC. 
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Plant Conservation Alliance®s Alien Plant Working Group 

Xeeds HoneXild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas 

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PHOTOGRAPHS 

Chris Lockhart, Habitat Specialists, Inc., Boynton Beach, FL 

Forest & Kim Starr, US Geological Survey, HI 

REFERENCES 

Hawkeswood, T.J. 1983. Pollination and fruit production of Cupaniopsis anacardioides (A. Rich.) Radlkf. (Sapindaceae) in 

Townsville, North Queensland. 1. Pollination and floral biology. Victorian Naturalist. 100: 12-20. 

Lockhart, C.S., D. Austin, L. Downey, and B. Jones. 1999. The Invasion of Carrotwood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides) in 

Florida Natural Areas (USA). Natural Areas Journal 19(3): 254-262. 

Oliver, J.D. 1992. Carrotwood: A Review of the Literature. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of 

Aquatic Plant Management. 

Reynolds, S.T. 1985. Sapindaceae. Flora of Australia 25, pp. 4-163. 

Stresau, F.B. 1986. Florida, My Eden. Florida Classics Library. Port Salerno, FL.

Swearingen, J. 2009. WeedUS Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States: Carrotwood (Cupaniopsis 

anacardioides). http://www.invasive.org/weedus/subject.html?sub=5401. 

USDA, NRCS. 2009. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 

70874-4490 USA.