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Agapanthus in New Zealand

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Agapanthus flower

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

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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

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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

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References

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  1. ^ "Great British garden makers: Lawrence Johnston, 1871–1958 - Country Life". countrylife.co.uk. 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Environmental weeds: Delightful but destructive, Auckland: Auckland Regional Council, July 1995 (pamphlet)
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ Williams, Peter; Thompson, Wayne (2006-01-31). "Agapanthus joins planned hit-list for national ban". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2012-01-19.

Further reading

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