Agapanthus in New Zealand
Originating from South Africa, Agapanthus—specifically Agapanthus praecox and its cultivars—were brought to New Zealand and later became a popular and common invasive species garden plant.
Garden appeal[edit]
Troops returning from the Second Boer War in the native range of this genus liked the plant, escalating its commonplace use in the early twentieth century.[1] Agapanthus is often seen planted alongside fences in home gardens and framing driveway entrances. They also found lasting appeal at baches in New Zealand, for the extreme hardiness, salt-tolerance and very low maintenance.
Weed status[edit]
The plant has been listed on various weed registers since 1996, and is currently declared by the Department of Conservation to be an environmental weed.[2] It is found on public land administered by DOC, including Kapiti Island.
A. praecox has been recognised for its invasiveness in the Auckland region since the 1990s.[3] The former Auckland Regional Council (now subsumed into the Auckland Council) classed it as a surveillance plant pest in 2007. In the 2011–2016 Regional Pest Management Strategy the Bay of Plenty Regional Council classes it as a restricted pest plant.[4]
There was an attempt made at adding A. praecox to the 2006 update of the National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) but the application was declined.[5] The 2011–2012 update of the NPPA attracted debate when it was again recommended for addition.[needs update]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Great British garden makers: Lawrence Johnston, 1871–1958 - Country Life". countrylife.co.uk. 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
- ^ Howell, Clayson (May 2008). Consolidated list of environmental weeds in New Zealand (PDF). DRDS292. Wellington: Department of Conservation. ISBN 978-0-478-14413-0. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-05-30. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
- ^ Environmental weeds: Delightful but destructive, Auckland: Auckland Regional Council, July 1995 (pamphlet)
- ^ "Keeping Pests Out: Regional Pest Management Plan for the Bay of Plenty 2011 – 2016" (PDF). Bay of Plenty Regional Council. September 2011. ISSN 1178-3907.
- ^ Williams, Peter; Thompson, Wayne (2006-01-31). "Agapanthus joins planned hit-list for national ban". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
Further reading[edit]
- Ford, K.; Dawson, M. (2010). "Fertility and ability to hybridise in two 'eco-friendly' dwarf cultivars of Agapanthus L'Hér. (Amaryllidaceae) in New Zealand" (PDF). Lincoln, England: Landcare Research. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-11-04.
External links[edit]
- Agapanthus at Weedbusters
- Agapanthus at Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
- Agapanthus information at Environment Canterbury