638 days ago

Watch out for this pretty flower

Green thumbs are being asked to watch out for a beautiful but toxic flower that could be growing in their backyards.

What you need to know:
- Every part of the plant is poisonous, and can cause gastroenteritis, thirst, paralysis, blindness, and heart and kidney failure.
- This plant is hardy and normal pest control efforts are often not enough to eradicate.
- The cape tulip, growing up to 90cm high with one strap-like leaf, was introduced to Aotearoa in the 1940s, the Ministry for Primary Industries’ manager for pest management John Sanson said. “Cape tulips, like many of these invasive weeds, are really attractive ornamental species ...but they escape over people’s backyard fences and into pasture, as these things often do,”
- It was classified as a noxious plant in the late 1970s after they were discovered to cause harm to livestock and humans, even killing animals when too much as ingested.
- The salmon-pink flowers bloom for about two days a year between June and December, and have previously been an ornamental species for keen gardeners.

Sanson urged people who believed they had the weed growing on their property to leave it untouched and contact Biosecurity New New Zealand’s Exotic Pest and Disease on 0800 80 99 66.

Once a site was confirmed, manual removal or chemical treatment would start.

More messages from your neighbours

Local Highlight

23 days ago

Poll: Are you as excited as we are for Te Matapihi’s grand reopening?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Wellington’s Te Awe Library on Brandon St will be closing its doors for good at 5 pm on March 1. It’s been the city’s largest temporary library, and now it’s making way for the exciting return of Te Matapihi Central Library!

We want to know: Are you as excited as we are for Te Matapihi’s grand reopening?

Want all the details? The Post has everything you need to know.

Are you as excited as we are for Te Matapihi’s grand reopening?

46.5% Yes

46.5% Complete
53.5% No

53.5% Complete

284 votes

20 hours ago

THE WAIKANAE BEACH MONTHLY COMMUNITY MARKET IS ON TOMORROW

Gary from Waikanae

WHERE:- Waikanae Beach Community Hall,
22 Rauparaha Street, Waikanae Beach,

WHEN:- Sunday 8 February 10am-1pm

Enjoy a Sunday outing with your family and friends by visiting this great friendly community market where you will discover handmade treasures and local creativity by highly talented stallholders where every piece tells a story.

FOR THE KIDS:-
Bring the kids along so they can meet jane with her quality handmade crochet toys, along with Helen and her huge range of awesome handmade children's dress ups and dolls clothes etc and Viv a local author of Children's Books and an accomplished creator of Pet Portraits.

NEW STALLHOLDERS:-
Viv Walker who writes and illustrates children's books, creates art prints and offers portrait commissions for people and pets will be joining us along with Nicky with her Fresh Flowers.

DISCOVER UNIQUE AND QUALITY ITEMS:-
With Valentines Day fast approaching do your gift shopping at the market where you'll find a huge variety of high-quality, reasonably priced ideas.

MEET UP WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY:-
Meet up with a friend or 2 and enjoy a Sunday outing at this great Community event.

Don't miss it... support local!