|Botanical Name||Agapanthus praecox|
IdentificationRobust, evergreen, forming dense clumps to 600 mm high, with thick long rhizome. Leaves to 20 on each shoot, up to 700 mm long and 55 mm wide, leathery, arching, longitudinally grooved. Flowers tubular, light blue or white in many-flowered umbels (umbrella shaped inflorescence), 40-45 mm long, to 70 mm diameter.
HabitatsBluffs and coastal cliffs. Common at Piha on the west coast.
Impact to Biota and EcosystemsForms dense mats, particularly within bluff and coastal communities.
Dispersal Routes, Vectors, Infestation SourcesDispersed via seed and garden escape.
|Physical Control||Dig out taking care to remove all bulbs. Remove and burn or deep bury flower heads to stop spread of seed.|
Dispose of bulbs and tops effectively by thoroughly drying and burning, or bury at a landfill.
Very good control has been achieved using Vilgilant gel (Picloram) on stumps after removing the foliage.
Digging is effective if done with care.