Beautiful But DangerousMore Invasive Alien Plants of Durban

with some Indigenous Alternatives

Beautiful But DangerousMore Invasive Alien Plants of Durban

and the Eastern, Sub-tropical Region of South Africa

with some Indigenous Alternatives

Durban Unicity

The publication of this poster was made possible by generous funding from the

Lomas Wildlife Protection Trust.

Control and Eradication

Control of alien plants in a garden situation isprobably best achieved by mechanical means.Tackle light infestations first and then denserinfestations. Small plants may be pulled out atthe roots especially when the soil is moist.Larger plants may need to be dug out at theroots. The key to success is to tackle the job ina planned way and to diligently follow up toremove seedlings and regrowth.

For more serious problems herbicides may beused. It is recommended that professionaladvice is sought before using herbicides.

KeyCategory 1

Category 3

Potential Problems

Poisonous

New Weed & Invader Plant Legislation

By the year 2000, 10 million hectares of land in SouthAfrica had been invaded by alien plants. Alien plantshave numerous impacts:

!They can increase flood damage.!They compete with agricultural crops.!They displace indigenous plants and animals.!They increase the loss of water from catchments.!They increase the severity of fires.!They expand the range of disease-causing organisms.

Despite raising almost R 1 billion to date throughnational government programmes and working atunprecedented levels, we are not reducing the extentof the invasion. In recognising the threats posed byinvasive plants, the National Department of Agri-

culture has drafted regulations and listed weeds andalien invader plants under the Conservation of Agri-cultural Resources Act.

The list contains about 200 plants grouped into threecategories:

CATEGORY 1: Weeds which may not be grown andmust be controlled.

CATEGORY 2: Invader plants with commercial orutility value, which may only be grown with a per-mit under controlled circumstances.

CATEGORY 3: Invader plants, which have amenityvalue and which may be grown, but not planted,propagated, imported or traded. You may notgrow Category 3 plants within 30 metres of water-courses and the Department may instruct you tocontrol Category 3 plants in other areas.

Prevention of alien plant invasions is farcheaper than control or eradication. Thisposter profiles plants which are grown andsold by nurseries and used by landscapersand gardeners. Unlike most other exoticspecies, these plants have escaped formallyplanted areas and are appearing to varyingdegrees in natural ecosystems.

Some of the plants on this poster have notbeen placed in a category by theDepartment of Agriculture and are thusnot covered by the new legislation.Currently they are considered regionalproblems and/or their weed potential is yetto be established.

The plants on this poster were selectedusing these criteria:

!They have escaped formally plantedareas in Durban and are likely to do soin other sub-tropical parts of SouthAfrica.

!They are potential transformers of natur-al habitats.

!They are ‘emerging’ problem species.

Another poster in the series describes themost aggressive weed and invader plants inthe region.

This Poster’s Objective

Useful Contacts

For advice and planning of control work:! Your local District Conservation Officer, KZN Wildlife.Tel: 031-764 3515. E-mail: pattrici@kznncs.org.za ! The Ecological Advice Division, KZN Wildlife,Pietermartizburg. Tel: 033-845 1999.! The Plant Protection Research Institute, Cedara runs a shortcourse on alien plant control for land managers. Tel: 033-355 9416 or 033-355 9413. E-mail: ntjg@natal1.agric.za! Alien Buster Campaign, Toll-free line: 0800 005 376.

For Law Enforcement:! National Department of Agriculture, Directorate: AgriculturalLand and Resource Management, Box 345, Pietermaritzburg,3200. Tel: 033-345 3515 or 033-345 3557.

For information about the use of herbicides contact:! Your local supplier of agro-chemicals (see Weed ControlServices in the Yellow Pages).

To find indigenous plants and professional contractorswho remove alien plants:! The Botanical Society - KZN Coastal Branch. Fax: 031-201 9958. E-mail: plantnet@iafrica.com! The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA)- KZN Region. Tel: 031-201 3126. E-mail: wlskzn@saol.com! Natural Areas Section, Durban Parks Department. Tel: 031-312 4466. E-mail: katee@prcsu.durban.gov.za! or visit these web sites:http://www.wildlifesociety.org.za http://environment.durban.gov.zahttp://parks.durban.gov.za http://www.botanicalsociety.org.za

Useful References

! Botha, C. and Botha, J. Bring Nature Back to Your Garden.A WESSA Handbook with a chapter on alien weeds and lots ofsuggestions for indigenous alternatives.

! Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, 1983 (ActNo. 43 of 1983)

! Guiding Principles for the Landscaping of the DurbanInner City and KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Belt. A DurbanMetro publication available from the cashier at the City EngineersBuilding, 166 Old Fort Road, Durban.

! Henderson, L. In press (due early 2001). The CompleteGuide to Declared Weeds and Alien Plant Invaders inSouth Africa. Plant Protection Research Institute Handbook.Agricultural Research Council.

! Moore, J. Eradicating Invading Alien Plants in KwaZulu-Natal. This is a cheap and useful publication available fromWESSA at 100 Brand Rd, Glenwood, Durban.

! Vermuelen, et al. A Guide to the Use of Herbicides.Available from Agricultural Information, Private Bag X 144,Pretoria, 0001.

Acknowledgments

The production of this resource was a joint effortbetween the Botanical Society of SA, the Durban MetroEnvironmental Management Branch, the Durban ParksDepartment and the Wildlife and Environment Society ofSA.

With additional assistance from:Lesley Henderson of the Plant Protection Research

Institute, Agricultural Research Council.Geoff Nichols and Gareth Chittenden who supplied the

photographs.

Copies of this poster are available from:Durban Metro Environmental Management Branch,

Development and Planning Building, 166 Old Fort Rd, DurbanTel: 031-300 2517.

Wildlife and Environment Society of SA, 100 Brand Rd., Glenwood, Durban. Tel: 031-201 3126.

Botanical Society of SA. Fax: 031-201 9958.

Ageratina adenophora Crofton Weed

Origin: Central America

Indigenous alternatives:Barleria obtusa Bush VioletBarleria saxatalis Small Blue BarleriaBarleria albostellata Peristrophe cernua False Buckwheat

Anredera cordifoliaMadeira Vine

Origin: South America

Indigenous alternatives:Cissus rotundifolia Bushveld GrapeRhoicissus tomentosa Common Forest GrapeTinospora caffra Orange Grape Creeper

Albizia procera False Lebbeck

Origin: Tropical Asia

Indigenous alternatives:Acacia xanthophloea Fever TreeAlbizia adianthifolia Flat-crownAlbizia versicolor Large-leaved False-thornFicus bubu Swazi Fig

Ardisia crenataCoral Bush

Origin: South-east Asia

Indigenous alternatives:Erythroxylum delagoense

Small-leaved Coco Tree Mitriostigma axillare

Small False LoquatPavetta revoluta

Dune Bride’s BushPsychotria capensis

Black Bird-berry

Bryophyllum delagoenseChandelier Plant(= Kalanchoe tubiflora, Bryophyllum tubiflorum, Kalanchoe delagoensis)

Origin: Madagascar

Indigenous alternatives:Cotyledon orbiculata Pig’s EarsKalanchoe crenata

Yellow Hairy KalanchoeKalanchoe paniculata

Large Orange KalanchoeKalanchoe thyrsiflora White Lady

Araujia sericiferaMoth Catcher

Origin: South America

Indigenous alternatives:Adenia gummiferaMondia whitei White’s GingerPetopentia natalensis Propeller VineTacazzea apiculata Crawcraw Vine

Cestrum aurantiacum Yellow or Orange Cestrum, andCestrum elegans Crimson Cestrum

Origin: C. aurantiacum - Guatemala C. elegans - Mexico

Canna indicaWild Canna or Indian Shot(not hybrid cultivars)

Origin: Central and South America, and West Indies

(C. X generalis or some Canna hybridshave also escaped from formal landscapes)

Indigenous alternatives:Crocosmia aurea Falling StarsGladiolus dalenii African GladiolusKniphofia spp. Red Hot PokersZantedeschia aethiopica White Arum Lily

Cinnamomum camphoraCamphor Tree

Origin: China, Taiwan and Japan

Indigenous alternatives:Apodytes dimidiata

White PearCryptocarya latifolia

Broad-leaved QuinceCryptocarya woodii

Cape Quince

Above: C. X generalisRight: C. indica

C. parqui Chinese Cestrum and C. laeviga-tum Inkberry are also Category 1 plants.

Indigenous alternatives:Bauhinia tomentosa Bush Neat’s FootBurchellia bubalina Wild PomegranatePeddiea africana Poison OlivePolygala myrtifolia September Bush

Hedychium coccineumRed Ginger Lily, and

Hedychium gardnerianumKahili Ginger Lily

Origin: Himalayas

Indigenous alternatives:Crinum moorei Moore’s LilyDracaena aletriformis

Large-leaved Dragon TreeSansevieria metallica Giant SansevieriaSiphonochilus aethiopicus Wild Ginger

Cortaderia selloanaPampas Grass (excluding sterile cultivars)

Origin: South America

Cortaderia jubata Pampas Grass is a Category 1 plant,which occurs in Durban.

Indigenous alternatives:Cymbopogon spp. Turpentine GrassesMariscus solidusMiscanthus capensis East-coast Broom Grass

Eugenia unifloraCherry Hedge or Surinam Cherry

Origin: Brazil and Guyana

Indigenous alternatives:Cryptocarya wylei Red QuinceEugenia natalitia Common Forest MyrtleSyzygium pondoense Pondo WaterwoodTeclea gerrardii Zulu Cherry-orange

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Hedychium coronarium White Ginger Lily, and

Hedychium flavescens Yellow Ginger Lily

Origin: H. coronarium - India to Indonesia H. flavescens - Himalayas

Indigenous alternatives:Crinum moorei Moore’s LilyDracaena aletriformis

Large-leaved Dragon TreePlectranthus ecklonii Large Spur-flower BushSiphonochilus aethiopicus Wild Ginger

Above: H. flavescensRight: H. coronarium

Ipomoea albaMoonflower, and

Ipomoea indicaMorning Glory

Origin: l. alba - Tropical AmericaI. indica - West Indies?

Indigenous alternatives:Ipomoea albivenia Climbing KapokIpomoea ficifolia Fig-leaved IpomoeaIpomoea mauritiana

Large Forest IpomoeaMondia whitei White’s Ginger

Left: I. albaBelow: I. indica

Macfadyena unguis-catiCat's Claw Creeper

Origin: Mexico to Argentina

Indigenous alternatives:Senecio tamoides

Canary CreeperSenecio brachypodusSenecio pleistocephalusStrophanthus spp.

Poison Ropes

Passiflora suberosaIndigo Berry

Origin: South America

Passiflora subpeltata - Granadina, whichoccurs naturally from Central Mexico toColombia and Venezuela, is also a Category 1 plant.

Indigenous alternatives:Adenia gummifera Cissus fragilis Forest Grape VineJasminum multipartitum Starry Wild JasmineJasminum angulare Wild Jasmine

Rhus succedanea (= Toxicodendron succedaneum)

Wax Tree

Origin: Japan to India

Indigenous alternatives:Bridelia micrantha MitzeerieCombretum kraussii

Forest Bushwillow Galpinia transvaalica

Wild Pride-of-IndiaProtorhus longifolia Red Beech

Pennisetum setaceum Fountain Grass

Origin: North Africa

Pennisetum villosum Feathertop (excluding thesterile cultivar ‘Rubrum’) is also a Category 1plant, which occurs in Durban.

Indigenous alternatives:Aristida junciformis Gongoni Three-awnImperata cylindrica Cottonwool GrassSetaria megaphylla

Broad-leaved Bristle GrassSetaria sphacelata Golden Bristle Grass

Above: P. suberosaAbove right: P. suberosaRight: P. subpeltata fruits

Rivina humilisRivina or Rouge Plant or

Bloodberry

Origin: USA

Indigenous alternatives:Freesia laxa Small Red IrisJusticia betonica Paper PlumeJusticia capensis Money PlantPhaulopsis imbricataPlectranthus zuluensis

Zulu Spur-flower

Tecoma stans Yellow Bells

Origin: Tropical America

Indigenous alternatives:Ochna natalitia Natal PlanePeltophorum africanum

Weeping WattlePittosporum viridifolium

CheesewoodThespesia acutiloba

Wild Tulip Tree

Solanum seaforthianumSmall Potato Creeper

Origin: Tropical America

Indigenous alternatives:Asparagus falcatus

Large Forest Asparagus Cissus rotundifolia Bushveld GrapeSolanum geniculatum Creeping PotatoTinospora caffra Orange Grape Creeper

Thevetia peruvianaYellow OleanderOrigin: Mexico and West Indies

Indigenous alternatives:

Ochna natalitia Natal PlanePeltophorum africanum

Weeping WattleThespesia acutiloba

Wild Tulip Tree

Triplaris americanaAnt TreeOrigin: South Panama to

South-east Brazil

Indigenous alternatives:Barringtonia racemosa

Powder-puff TreeErythrina lysistemon

Common Coral TreeCroton sylvaticus

Forest Fever-berry

Thelechitonia trilobataWedelia or Singapore Daisy

Origin: Tropical America

Indigenous alternatives:Arctotheca calendula Cape WeedGazania rigens Trailing DaisyOthonna carnosaBulbine frutescens Spreading Bulbine

Orange variety.

Jacaranda mimosifolia Jacaranda (excluding sterile cultivar 'Alba')

Origin: North-west Argentina

Indigenous alternatives: Calodendrum capense

Cape ChestnutMillettia grandis UmzimbeetPeltophorum aficanum

Weeping WattleSchotia brachypetala

Weeping Boer-bean

Ligustrum lucidum Chinese Wax-leavedPrivetOrigin: Korea and China

Indigenous alternatives:Apodytes dimidiata White PearChionanthus peglerae

White Pock IronwoodOlea woodiana Forest Olive Protorhus longifolia Red Beech

Bauhinia variegata Pink Camel's Foot or Orchid Tree& Bauhinia variegata var. candida White Camel’s FootOrigin: East Asia

Bauhinia purpurea Butterfly Orchid Tree,which is also in Category 3, is very similar. Indigenous alternatives:Afzelia quanzensis Pod MahoganyBauhinia galpinii Pride-of-De KaapCalodendrum capense Cape ChestnutSchotia brachypetala Weeping Boer-bean

Left: var. candida

Lilium formosanum St Joseph's LilyOrigin: Taiwan

Indigenous alternatives:Crinum bulbispermum

Orange River LilyCrinum macowanii River Lily Crinum moorei Moore’s CrinumHibiscus calyphyllus

Large Yellow Wild Hibiscus

Plectranthus comosus Woolly Plectranthus(P. barbatus has been misapplied to this species)

Origin: India

Indigenous alternatives:Leonotis intermedia Broad-leaved LeonotisPlectranthus ecklonii Large Spur-flower BushPycnostachys reticulata Slender Pycnostachys Tetradenia riparia Iboza

Nephrolepis exaltata Sword Fern (excl. cultivars)

Origin: North and Central America and West Indies

Indigenous alternatives:Microsorium scolopendrium

Creeping Dune FernNephrolepis biserrata Giant Forest FernRumohra adiantiformis Leather Fern Stenochlaena tenuifolia

Pontederia cordata Pickerel WeedOrigin: Brazil and Argentina

Indigenous alternatives:Cyperus textilis Tall Star SedgeHygrophila auriculata

Elephant’s DilemmaZantedeschia aethiopica

White Arum LilyZantedeschia albomaculata

Spotted-leaved Arum

Senna pendulaRambling CassiaOrigin: South America

Senna bicapsularis Rambling Cassia has alsoescaped formal landscapes.

Indigenous alternatives:Calpurnia aurea Natal Laburnum Crotalaria capensis Cape Rattle PodPhyllanthus reticulatus Potato Bush Senna petersiana Monkey Pod

Psidium cattleianum Strawberry or Cherry Guava(= Psidium littorale var. longipes)

Origin: Brazil

Indigenous alternatives:Dombeya rotundifolia

Common Wild PearEugenia natalitia

Common Forest MyrtleHeteropyxis natalensis

Lavender Bush

Aristolochia elegans Dutchman'sPipeOrigin: Brazil

Indigenous alternatives:Dioscorea cotinifolia

Wild YamDioscorea sylvatica

Forest Elephant’s FootIpomoea ficifolia

Fig-leaved IpomoeaVernonia angulifolia

Trailing Vernonia

Syzygium cuminiiJambolanOrigin: Indo-Malaysia

Syzygium jambos Rose Apple,which is in Category 3, has alsoescaped formal landscapes inDurban.

Indigenous alternatives:Bridelia micrantha MitzeerieSyzygium cordatum UmdoniSyzygium guineense

Water Pear

Callisia repens Dwarf-striped Inch PlantOrigin: Southern Mexico

Indigenous alternatives:Crassula expansa

Fragile CrassulaCrassula multicava

Fairy CrassulaCrassula sarmentosaPlectranthus strigosus

Small Money Plant

Duranta erecta Forget-me-not-treeOrigin: USA to Brazil

Indigenous alternatives:Dovyalis caffra Kei AppleDovyalis longispina Natal ApricotGrewia occidentalis Cross-berryPlumbago auriculata Plumbago

Mimosa pudica Sensitive PlantOrigin: Tropical, North and South America

Mimosa pigra Giant Sensitive Plant, which is inCategory 3, has escaped formal landscapeselsewhere in South Africa.

Indigenous alternatives:Indigofera spicata Indigo Indigofera micrantha Forest IndigoTephrosia capensis Small Pink TephrosiaTephrosia grandiflora

Large Pink Tephrosia

Coreopsis lanceolata TickseedOrigin: Eastern USA

Indigenous alternatives:Berkheya speciosaGazania krebsiana Bush GazaniaGazania rigens Trailing GazaniaHaplocarpha scaposa

False Gerbera

Right: variegated form

Mirabilis jalapa Four O’clockOrigin: Tropical America

Indigenous alternatives:Barleria delagoensisDissotis canescens

Pink Wild TibouchinaOrthosiphon labiatus Shell BushThunbergia natalensis

Natal Blue Bell

Senna occidentalis Stinking Weed or Wild

CoffeeOrigin: Tropical America?

Senna septemtrionalis and Sennahirsuta have also escaped formal landscapes in Durban.

Indigenous alternatives:Calpurnia aurea Natal LaburnumHypericum revolutum Curry BushOchna serrulata Small-leaved Plane Psychotria capensis Black Bird-berry

Schefflera actinophylla Queensland Umbrella Tree(= Brassaia actinophylla)and Schefflera arboricola Hawaiian Elf

Origin: S. actinophylla New Guinea andTropical Australia and S. arboricola Taiwan

Indigenous alternatives:Cussonia nicholsonii

Natal Coast Cabbage TreeCussonia sphaerocephala

Natal Forest Cabbage TreeCussonia spicata Common Cabbage TreeCussonia zuluensis Zulu Cabbage Tree

Above: S. actinophyllaLeft: S. arboricola

variegated form

Below: S. arboricola

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