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Pests and weeds

Welcome to our Pest Hub your go-to guide for advice on pest animals and weeds in Te Tairāwhiti.

Buddleia

Buddlejaceae - Buddleja davidii

What does it look like?

This weed is a woody and deciduous multi-stemmed ornamental  shrub that grows up to 3 m tall.

Blunt angled stems, thin willow-shaped leaves (6-20 x 3-8cm), hairy underneath, and finely toothed. Flowers are cone-shaped hanging clusters (30x 5cm) made up of many purple or white fragrant flowers (5mm diameter) with orange insides.

The plant invades river beds, streamsides, disturbed areas, shrubland and forest margins.  It tolerates a wide range of soils and temperatures, prefers wet to moderately dry conditions and is resistant to wind and damage. It can grow in shade or open areas, but seedlings require high light levels.

Most commonly spotted: Flowers from December to February. 

 

 

Why is it a problem?

Buddleia is a quick-growing shrub that forms replacing thickets in a wide range of habitats. It very successful in out-competing other native species due to quick regeneration and producing vast numbers of highly viable seeds

 

Control methods

Pull or dig small plants. Leave on site to rot down.

For agrichemical control for refer to: Buddleia • Weedbusters

More information

Similar species: Several pink and mauve hybrids and cultivars are also sold. There are no known native plant species with a similar appearance.

Management programme
Site-Led
It's the landowner/occupier's responsibility to remove/reduce this pest.
National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA)
If allowed to spread further, these pest plants could seriously damage our country’s economy and environment. See Related Links for NPPA.
Rules
Good Neighbour Rule 1.16

All occupiers shall on a complaints basis, and unless otherwise agreed between the neighbours and Council staff, destroy this pest plant on their land within 50m of a boundary with an adjacent property within 21 calendar days of being notified of the presence of the pest, where the adjacent land occupier is controlling these pests on their land.

Site-Led

Council will work with landowner/occupier, including developing agreements for the effective management of this pest to protect the values of specific sites.

For more information about this Rule, refer to our Regional Pest Management Plan page 44, under Related Links.