Invasive Species in New Zealand - Plant Species

Plant Species

The National Pest Plant Accord, with a listing of about 120 genus, species, hybrids and subspecies, was developed to limit the spread of plant pests. Invasive plants are classified as such on a regional basis with some plants declared as national plant pests. The Department of Conservation also lists 328 vascular plant species as environmental weeds.

Some of the better-known invasive plant species are:

  • Acacia species (mostly Australian) especially wattle
  • Acanthus - Bears Britches
  • Arundo donax - Giant Reed (or Elephant Grass)
  • Banana passionfruit
  • Darwin's Barberry
  • Blackberry
  • Boneseed
  • Broom
  • Californian thistle
  • Cape Tulip
  • Asparagus scandens - Climbing Asparagus
  • Didymosphenia geminata ("didymo" or "rock snot")
  • Japanese Honeysuckle
  • Jasminum polyanthum - Jasmine
  • Gorse
  • Heather
  • Kahili Ginger
  • Lagarosiphon major (oxygen weed)
  • Lodgepole Pine
  • Loquat
  • Lupin
  • Mexican daisy
  • Ageratina adenophora - Mexican devil
  • Mistflower
  • Morning glory - convolvulous
  • Moth plant
  • Egeria (oxygen weed)
  • Old man's beard
  • Pampas grass
  • Privet - Tree Privet and Chinese Privet
  • Purple loosestrife
  • Queen of the Night
  • Ragwort
  • Rhamnus alaternus
  • Rhododendron ponticum
  • Schinus terebinthifolius - Christmasberry
  • Scotch thistle
  • Wandering Jew
  • Willow - Crack willow and Gray Willow
  • Yellow flag

The city of Auckland has been declared to be the weediest city in the world.

Read more about this topic:  Invasive Species In New Zealand

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