Suggestions for climbers...

20 Jun '08 7:16 pm

I know what you mean, Kerole! We have pretty stringent legislation here too, although not QUITE the history of invasion that NZ fauna and flora had to suffer. For the last ten years we have had a list of not allowed to sell/ not allowed to plant/ must be destroyed plants in SA. The problem is that the list is very un-ecologically selective, and we range through just about every possible temperate and sub-tropical biome in this country. There are vicious weeds that aren't on the list because they are less noticeable to the untrained eye, but Lilium formosanum is seen as public enemy number one by the Greenies in our area - mainly because it stands out with its beautiful blooms. It grows upright, it dies back upright without ever collapsing onto its neighbours... even when quite dense it does little to damage native vegetation. As long as they fight it, I fight them. I'm seen by many as a monster because I plant mainly exotics and because I pride myself in the way the endemic plants have responded so positively to the varied way in which I cultivate and plant my land. Like religious fundamentalists they tend to a holier-than-thou I-have-all-the-answers approach that brings the devil out in me. In addition anything South African is preferable to anything from overseas, regardless of how incompatible in climate and biome. It is utter nonsense. It is easy enough to be patriotic about South African plants in our gardens without being xenophobic!

22 Jun '08 1:59 pm

Here here Jack. I had no idea the lilies were a problem in SA. Over here we have an ever growing list of common-garden type plants that are being added to the naughty plant list - the giant gunnera I crave is one of them. Agapanthus is another. You are right, these plants are a problem in certain areas but not others, but one rule for all is by far the easiest to manage.

22 Jun '08 4:21 pm

And all those beautiful wild gingers that we aren't allowed to grow (I couldn't, anyway, soil too frosty). I must remember to tell my Agapanthus to be jolly thankful - anyway, I believe (rightly or wrongly) that sheep won't munch agapanthus leaves. Lots of the neighbouring farms grow them down driveways, and in areas where sheep wander.

22 Jun '08 8:52 pm

I don't know about sheep, but cows certainly eat them. I am slowing ridding the property of them. It's a bit of a shame really as they grow in places where other plants would say "hell no!" Anyway, when the cattle escaped into the pond garden a while ago, they ate several agapanthus plants down to the ground, slime and all! The horses wouldn't dream of it - not expensive enough for their tastes.

Speaking of ginger, I waged war on this pest at a previous property. Incredibly tenacious, but the most gorgeous flowers. I would sneak a few flower stalks into the house and the smell was heavenly.

...and don't get me started on Old Man's Beard and convolvulus Exclamation

24 Jun '08 5:08 am

For my neighbour once removed the flowering ginger is a weed. For me, at the bottom of the valley, it hardly ever gets to flower, and if it does the seeds are frosted to death.

Agapanthus of course is indigenous (see my blog entry on A. inapertus, our local version at forums.mooseyscountrygarden.com/garden1506-0-asc-50.html )- being relatively local all agapanthus survives tenaciously wherever it grows, but I've never heard of it becoming invasive. On the other hand what is A. inapertus in my photos if not invasive? Now I'm confused Rolling Eyes

24 Jun '08 9:39 am

Up here in the warmer North of NZ, Agapanthus (my non-gardening sister-in-law calls them Agatha panthuses Smile

) have managed to get a root-hold in the native bush. Their evergreeness means they shade native seedlings from the light and stop forest rejuvenation. The eradication of them from National parklands is quite slow as they seem to be impervious to most chemicals and they can be buggers to pull out.

I have seen some A. inapertus in ultra-trendy gardens over here. They are being touted as the eco-friendly aggy, and all cool, hip, eco-savvy pseudo-gardners should have at least one on their granite patio. Snide nonsense aside, they have a lovely softness to their flowers and the blue is incredible. Being deciduous is a bit of a downer though. I don't have any but I do have a gazillion mini aggies - 'Peter Pan' I'm pretty sure. They line the raised garden beds at the front of the house and never, ever get any special treatment. Eventually these gardens will be taken down and remodelled - what will happen to the mini aggies I wonder?!

Anyway, since this is the rose forum, I thought I'd throw in a bit about the species rose Multiflora. I have a couple of these here - on somewhat remote fence lines and in disused corners of the property. They have the sweetest wee flowers. They are the usual choice for rootstock and I have inherited an Iceberg that is doing its level best to revert to a Multiflora. I don't find it a hassle to own (mine have very few thorns but I know that is not always the case), but it is on the very naughty plant list in some states of North America.

Suggestions for climbers...

Indigenous vs exotic

Agapanthus munching.

Ginger and agapanthus

Rosa multiflora - maligned or malicious?