What does it look like?
Upright herbaceous plant with perennial underground bulbs producing annual shoots (<1-2m tall). Erect unbranched stems are mostly smooth and dark green in colour, but can be purplish-brown towards the base. Alternately arranged stalkless, hairless leaves (7.5-20 cm long and 5-10 mm wide) with smooth edges are elongated or linear in shape and generally become smaller towards the top of the stems. Scented, funnel-shaped flowers (12-20 cm long) have six large white ‘petals’ flushed with mauve or reddish-purple on the outside, and which develop into cylindrical seed capsules (5-9 cm long and 1-2 cm wide) containing winged seeds.
Why is it weedy?
Spreads easily, hardy.
How does it spread?
Wind spread seeds and also vegetatively by underground bulbs.
What damage does it do?
Competes with native plants in specific ecosystems such as sand dunes.
Which habitats is it likely to invade?
Disturbed areas, road sides, sand dunes.
What can I do to get rid of it?
1. Dig out scattered plants: remove underground bulbs and dispose of at refuse transfer station.
2. Overall spray: metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (5g/10L).
For more information and pictures of this weed check out this Auckland Council info page.
