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.
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Linkline Social Club
- Matinee Movies at Lighthouse Cinema
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Sense and Sensibility: A Rambunctious Reimagining
Jane Austen’s classic tale of sisters, suitors and losing your senses performs at Circa Theatre this July. Six spectacular women breathe life into 24 characters in this Regency-era romp bursting with hilarity, throbbing hearts, and vivid theatricality.
The latest rollicking rewrite by comedian Penny Ashton – a hoot and a half for Austen fans and novices alike.
6 July - 3 August at Circa Theatre
6:30pm Tue - Thu, 8pm Fri - Sat, 4pm Sun
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