Invasive garden plants and their alternatives

There are laws pertaining to invasive plants in South Africa and even penalties attached. However the provincial and local conservation prefer to obtain the cooperation of people in the removal of prohibited plants.

Having said that and aside from the law as it stands it is also wise to remove the invaders as they do have a detrimental effect on our ecology. Just look at the huge stands of Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii) in the Western Cape. A formidable task to eliminate these trees as their seed have a forty year viability so it is not long after you have cleared a tract of land when lo and behold there are the saplings all over again.

Here are some alternatives to invasive species:

Category 1

Butterfly orchid tree (Bauhinia purpurea)

Alternative:

pride of de Kaap (Bauhinia galpinii), wild gardenia (Rothmania capensis)
or Cape stock rose (Sparmannia Africana)

Ginger lilies (Hedychium coronarium, Hedychium flavescens, Hedychium gardenerianum)

Alternative:

Blue ginger (Dichorisandra thyrisflora) or cannas.


Wild Morning glory (Convolvulus arvensis) or morning glory (Ipomoea indica or Ipomoea purpurea)

Alternative:

Convolvulus sabatius which is a perennial groundcover with small blue or white flowers; black eyed Susan (Thunbergia alata) or Ipomoea albivenia.

Yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus)

Alternative:

Dietes grandiflora, Louisiana iris or bearded iris.

Erect sword fern (Nephrolepis exaltata / cordifolia)

Alternative:

Leather leaf (Rumohra adiantiformis) Todea barbata (tree fern type) Ptreidium aquilinum, Asparagus virgatus, and A.densiflorus and Blechnum punctatum.

Oleander (Nerium oleander) (for the horse owner this is deadly for horses should they ingest the plant.)

Alternative:

Polygala myrtifolia both indigenous and non indigenous Salvias. Anisodontia julii and A.capensis;
Cleodendrum myracoides and indigenous hibiscus, Hibiscus callaphyllus or Hibiscus
diversifolius.

Prickly pear varieties (Opuntia species)

Alternative:

Aloe species depending on location, Euphorbia species, Crassula species, Cotyledon orbiculata (pigs ear) Erythrina humeana, Erythrina zeyheri.

Blue passion flower (Passiflora caerulea) or purple granadilla (Passiflora edulis)

Alternative:

Pseudogynosis chenopoides, Senecio macroglossus or Mondia whitei.

Yellow bells (Tecoma stans)

Alternative:

Cape honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis), Tabebuia rosea.

Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia)

Alternative:

Zinnia hybrids, Gaillardia aristata ‘Arizona sun’ or Rudbeckia purpurea.

Only Category 1 plants are listed above. For more information on the various categories and lists of plants go to:

www.biodiversityexplorer.org/plants/weeds_and_invaders/index.htm

www.dwaf.gov.za/wfw/legal

www.agis.agric.za/agisweb/wip

or obtain a plant list by emailing:

declaredweedsandinvaderplants@inda.agric.za

or a Booklet, Cara legislation made easy has been produced by the Department of Agriculture at 0800 005 376 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0800 005 376 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
Watch this space for more info on indigenous plants and the invaders to watch out for.