Native Plant of the Month: Lobelia anceps
Family: Campanulaceae
This native herb is usually overlooked but is usually found sprawling down banks on the sides of tracks in the Waitakere Ranges. It can struggle to compete with the Mexican Daisy pest when the latter dominates its habitat. Where I have weeded Mexican Daisy from track banks on a regular basis L. anceps has thrived. It flowers for an extended period over summer.
Weed of the Month: Erigeron karvinskianus
Mexican Daisy Family: Asteraceae (daisy)
Mexican Daisy forms dense mats and produces large amounts of seed that disperse long distances. It tolerates moderate shade to full sun, damp to drought condition and will grow in sand, mud, gravel, or tiny cracks in solid rock. It is most prevalent in our area on roadside and track banks.
Control options:
- Easy to dig or pull but ensure you get the roots out or it will regrow.
Large patches where there are no native plants can be sprayed with glyphosate (10ml/L + penetrant).