Botanists to gather in Auckland - the city of weeds

By ANNE BESTON

Auckland is the weediest city in the country, with four new weeds establishing themselves in the region each year.

Botanists and conservationists will gather in Auckland this weekend to find ways of protecting New Zealand's flora against the ever-growing weed problem.

The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network wants Auckland gardeners to ditch fashionable foreign grasses and shrubs in favour of attractive natives.

"The classic is kakabeak. It's a stunning plant adapted for Auckland's environment but is critically endangered; it's almost going extinct," said network secretary John Sawyer.

"While planting natives in the garden, you might not think you are contributing to the nation's heritage.

"There is every reason to put aside an area of your garden for natives just so we know they will never go extinct."

There are 300 regionally threatened plants in Auckland with more than 28 plant species now extinct.

Two of the most threatened species are mistletoe and moss.

High on the unwanted weeds list in Auckland are old man's beard, wild ginger and pampas.

More than 24,700 introduced plants are growing in NZ gardens and nurseries and 2221 introduced plants are growing in the wild. Native species number just 1896. Only seven species of invasive weeds have been successfully eradicated.

NZ Plant Conservation Network