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Arum Lily

Arum Lily
Photo: Lorna Rose
Invasive Plant
Arum Lily
Zantedeschia aethiopica
 

This white lily with large spathes is widely used as a cut flower. However, the plants of the Arum Lily will engulf gutters, streams, waterways and wetland bogs. It is now a widespread environmental weed. The green form called 'Green Goddess' is also invasive and can be found clogging up natural waterways.

 

HOW IT SPREADS

  • These plants produce prolific amounts of seed that wash down gutters and streams and readily germinate. Birds and small mammals also disperse the seeds through their droppings. These plants produce several small rhizomes (roots) that are easily spread in contaminated soil. Any moist soil will be quickly infiltrated.
 

Although these are popular cut flowers, the use of this plant must be discouraged for the home garden. Its spread must be stopped.

 
 
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Alternative Plants

Clivea
Photo: Elwyn Swayne
Alternative Plant Clivea
Clivia miniata
Trees and Shrubs
 

Grown for their deep green strap-like leaves and funnel-shaped, yellow-throated, orange to red flowers in spring. A clump forming perennial to 0.5 m high that thrives in full-shade to partshade in most soils. Is drought hardy and can be grown in containers. Yellow Clivea and deep orange-red 'BelgiumHybr id' forms are also available.

New Zealand Rock Lily
Photo: Macbird Floraprint
Alternative Plant New Zealand Rock Lily
Arthropodium cirrhatum 'Matapouri Bay'
Bulbous Plants
 

A cultivar of the New Zealand Rock Lily that grows to 1 m high by 1 m wide. The upright, broad, glaucous green foliage is a year round feature. In summer the plant is crowned with sprays of tall panicles of starry white flowers on long, slender, wiry stems held above the foliage.

Swamp Lily
Photo: Lorna Rose
Alternative Plant Swamp Lily
Crinum pedunculatum
Trees and Shrubs
 

This Australian native plant has rosettes of broad leaves and clusters of white, highly fragrant flowers on 1 m stems. Flowers appear from November to March. An extremely hardy specimen, it thrives in full-sun or dappled shade. It is mildly frost tolerant and can withstand poor drainage and clay soils.

 
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