Pest plants

Attractive blue or white flowers form umbrella-shaped clusters of small flowers December to February. 

A clump forming lily with large arrow-shaped leaves. Has a white, funnel shaped flower with a yellow spike.

Listed as one of the world’s worst invasive species by the World Conservation Union.

Has large, glossy dark green leaves and white / purple tubular flowers on the stem of a spike. 

Produces barbed seed which can be easily transported on clothing or by animals.

Pinkish-red to reddish-yellow and occasionally yellow or orange-red flowers.

A giant rhubarb-like plant up to 2m. Both the leaves and leaf stalks are covered in rubbery red prickles.

Large leaves have the appearance of an Elephant’s Ear, hence the name.

Considered a 'living fossil' as the species has been around for over 300 million years

A large lily with a simple stem up to 1m tall. Spreads quickly as seed is wind dispersed. 

Can grow up to 4m with an extensive root system that can be up to 3m deep and up to 7m across.

Massive clump-forming perennial with thin leaves that tend to droop at the edges of clumps.

A clump-forming, evergreen plant with large glossy, leathery, dark green, arrow shaped leaves.

Competes with native species for light, space and pollinators and can dominate vegetation on stream banks.

A fern with fronds up to 1.5m in length and are dark green above and pale green below.

A many-stemmed herb that has clusters of small white flowers from August to January.

Orange or crimson flowers appear from January to February on stems that give it zig-zag shaped appearance.

Forms clusters of burs that can stick to animal fur and its seeds are toxic to stock.

Originally from India. Dense, hanging palm-like leaves are pleated and taper to a point.

Large-clump forming grass up to 4 metres tall with erect fluffy, white pinkish or purplish flowerheads.

Named due to its tubers that look like nuts. It is considered an invasive species in over 90 countries. 

Primarily found in damp habitats and is considered a "living fossil" species. 

Royal fern is deciduous (dies back in winter) and has large fronds growing up to 3m long.

Thistles invade large areas of pasture, unpalatable to stock and reduce pasture productivity.

It is the only fern with tubers, which are round, potato-like up to 2cm.

Large purple flowers (November to January) are surrounded by spines.

Introduced as an ornamental plant due to its lush foliage and pleasant smelling flowers.

Identified by the straw yellow flowers with a purplish tinge that are present from December to April.

The sharp, needle-like tips of the seeds can penetrate skin and their backward-pointing bristles make them hard to remove.

Brought to New Zealand as an ornamental garden plant. Gardeners loved it for its ever-present flowers year round and hardiness.

Initially introduced for dune stabilisation but instead causes large, steep dunes. 

An extremely tough, thin densely tufted, perennial tussock grass that grows up to 70cm tall.

Native to South America and was accidentally introduced to NZ in the late 1800’s.

Erect grass which grow aggressively to form large dense mats, usually found in nutrient-rich water and wet ground.

Originally from the Americas it was introduced to New Zealand primarily as a turf grass for coastal golf courses. 

A clumping grass that is found in inter-tidal zones of coastlands and wetlands.

A tufted perennial grass with whorled branches that are bamboo-like in appearance.

A small, fern groundcover with long, fine roots and creeping, slender, irregularly 'stems'.

Grows rapidly to cover large areas of ground with a thick mat of hairy, silvery-grey patched leaves. 

A scrambling perennial, forming a dense tangled shrub, with wiry woody stems.

Bushy evergreen tough shrub with woody, wiry stems and pink to pale purple flowers.

Horse nettle is extremely invasive and hard to kill and all parts of the plant are poisonous.

Heart shaped leaves that are variegated cream, green, bronze, and scarlet.

Pale lemon-yellow flower heads (October to February) with leaves which lie flat to the ground.

Scrambling with green trailing stems and blue-violet flowers appear from January to December.

The plant stems covered in purple hairs and it has white flowers with purple dots inside  (December to August)

Ragwort has bright yellow daisy-like flowers in spring and also has an unpleasant smell when crushed.

A low growing, ground cover. Has leaves with scalloped edges that are leathery to the touch.

This plant is a major pest in parts of Australia where it is commonly called ‘doublegee’. 

Originally from south-east Brazil and Argentina, it will grow almost anywhere, making it very invasive.

A poisonous shrub that grazing stock will avoid, therefore reducing available grazing land.

Originally from South Africa Boneseed is named due to the white, bone-like appearance of its seeds.

Buddleia often forms in river beds which can alter water flow, causing silt build-up and flooding.

Forms dense mats that shade out native species and is extremely toxic to farm animals.

Produces a large number of seeds that are spread by birds to form dense stands which prevent native species from establishing.

A single straight trunk with leaves that are fan-shaped and divided into narrow leaflets.

A fast growing tree, rapidly maturing and producing a lot of seeds that are released in late summer.

Waves flush sand from underneath the tree roots causing erosion and creating steep dune slopes.

Has masses of shining red or orange berries and matures very quickly to form dense stands.

Shoots snap with an audible crack, hence the name ‘crack’ willow. 

Named after Charles Darwin – who discovered it in South America in 1835. It was brought to New Zealand for hedging. 

Originally introduced as a hedge to contain stock and provide a wind break. 

Can reach 30m in height. It's flowers have a fragrant smell and hang in droopy clusters.

Evergreen, spiny shrub which spreads to form dense thickets and produces orange berries.

Large, very prickly, woody, evergreen shrub growing up to 2-4m.

A deciduous shrub or small tree, spreading or thicket forming with suckering roots and smooth bark.

Popular as a hedging plant due to its hardy nature and exceptionally fast growth rate.

Produces many seeds that are well dispersed by birds and possibly possums.

A wide spreading deciduous hardwood tree found throughout the Bay of Plenty.

Kauri dieback disease is both incurable and fatal in kauri trees - potentially threatening the existence of whole kauri forests.

Considered one of the world’s worst invasive weeds, Lantana seeds can be deadly if eaten.

An evergreen tree with smooth bark and whitish flowers which are followed by bunches of berry-like fruit.

The Phoenix palm can grow up to 18m tall with sharp spines and originates from the Canary Islands.

Leaves are big paddle-like structures, fleshy and heavy with spikes dotted over them. 

Gets its name from the widespread (incorrect) belief that the plant is used to make rice paper.

Grows rapidly and produces a large number of seeds, which birds eat and disperse widely.

Native to Australia where, even in its native habitat, it is considered a pest of some coastal areas.

The Taiwan cherry crowds out neighbouring plants and shrubs and dominates a habitat.

All parts of the tree have a strong smell similar to peanuts or cashew nuts.

Tree Privet is found in coastal and lowland forests, shrubland, cliffs and coastline.

Has pale yellow flowers in bunches at the end of each branch.

Large woody shrub with the stems often being reddish, and coated with hairs.

A member of the nightshade family, dust from the plant can cause respiratory irritation.

A conifer tree bears cones and has needle-like or scale-like leaves. 

Also known as tobacco weed or kerosene plant because of its strong kerosene-like smell.