Nursery plant of the year 1988

20 years ago

The following image is of Genista monseplessulana or Cape Broom. This was probably introduced into Australia some time during the 1800's or early 1900's as an ornamental plant and quickly became an envionmental menace.

The nursery industry named it plant of the year in 1988 and by 1994 it was listed as a noxious weed under Victoria's Catchment and Land Protection Act.

The exotic plant Erica melanthera, that is a 'sibling' of another noxious weed Erica lusitanica or Spanish Heath, is commonly sold in retail nurseries. It is being closely monitored as a potential environmental weed and a future noxious weed.

What I am saying folks is beware of the exotic plants being sold to you in retail nurseries. There are many other exotic plants available that have real potential of becoming environmental menaces. And, unfortunately, most nursery staff and proprietors no little or nothing about the environmental weed issue and the potential threats their plants pose to the Australian environment.

And for overseas visitors to this forum, some or many Australian native plants pose a similar threat to your environments.

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Comments (11)

User
20 years ago
Plenty of that plant growing freely in Victoria, I used to see it everywhere when I was a youngster.
I even had a plant in my garden at one stage but it got too tall and blocked off the light
Coming into the kitchen window, that was in the 60's glad I ripped it out now...MM.
ginnybee
20 years ago
I see where you are coming from but so far you have named 3 lots of plants that I have & love all I can say is with care all the plants can be enjoyed, maybe discoureged in bush land areas
Jan.
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I know I purchased a few plants from a well known garden center I will not say the name. Well a few years went by and nothing seemed to grow any bigger in fact after we put fertilizer on them they still didnt do much. A few years later a friend went to work at this same company. He told me Carolyn be careful what you buy there they use retardants on their plants. Which is a growth hormone that prevents growth so they will not grow out of the pot to much while in the store. Well its been 4 years and this spring finally those plants I purchased took off. I curumba boy they took off so big I couldnt believe it. So yeah just give it a few years for them to get that hormone out of their system. If it bothers you about the retardants just before you purchase something there just simply ask. Or better yet just look at the plants, if the plants seem to be maintained in the pots and are "picture perfect" chances are they have been subject to the retardant. Go to a locally owned nursery if you got to drive to get to one I would say its worth it. Look at the pots if you tilt it up and roots are growing out the bottom and the plant looks like its just bout to bust out of its pot then chances are that those plants are good. Bigger plants dont always necessarly mean more for the money. Local nurseries also have small affordable plants that I have bought in 4" squares and bring home to get maybe 4 plants out of, depending on the plant I have gotten 20 out of one 4" square pot. Plus the local guy needs the business more than that big name corperation any day.
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happyjacq_bris
20 years ago
preaching to the converted here. However need a magnifying glass to see those pictures. They mostly look like a grassy mess. Post them bigger, or the message stays rather too lame
gregaryb
Original Author
20 years ago
The image size limit is presenting a bit of a problem for me regarding the images being to small. Not sure how to get around that.
happyjacq_bris
20 years ago
Oh sorry Greg. Very interesting at any rate.
Keep up the good work.
happyjacq_bris
20 years ago
I tried to make it a bit bigger and clearer. Hope you don't mind. I just think it is so important.

{{gwi:2115062}}
happyjacq_bris
20 years ago
Tried again with another picture. This is a bit clearer.
{{gwi:2115063}}
greyscarr
20 years ago
{{gwi:2115064}}
Genista monspessulana - Canary, Cape or French Broom

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Cytisus scoparius - English Broom

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Erica Lusitanica - Erica lusitanican

I don't always agree with some of Greg's views but I have worked voluntarily and as a contractor to remove these plants from the wild. They are VERY BAD NEWS!!! I have seen infestations of all of these plants where they have formed a monoculture with no other plants growing in the area and with next to no wildlife. I will never grow these plants and I recommend that no other Australian should do so either. If you see them in a nursery leave them there!
gregaryb
Original Author
20 years ago
I would go one step further than that greyscar...in Victoria (and I assume other states) it is illegal to distribute those species that are listed as noxious weeds.
I would be drawing the vendors attention to this fact and, if necessary, reporting them to the Department of Primary Industries for a bit of court room re-education.
Sparaxis
20 years ago
Having spent the weekend pulling out the little blighters - I think you are doing a great job warning people. Here in central Victoria broom is a major problem, just not as prickly as gorse and blackberries. I was sorely tempted to put an entry in at the local flower and garden show with a bowl of foliage and bloom from these 3 nasties, tempered with a lovely bough of Hawthorn in full bloom, maybe some Cape tulips and pattersons curse on the side? A newcomer to the area would be forgiven for thinking these and the radiata pines were the native flora.
I'm not big on natives myself, although the area of lawn I replaced with native garden is probably bigger than most suburban back yards, but I do take the time to rip out the cotoneasters, and anything else that looks a threat. Seems like a waste of effort at times, when the council take so little time to remove the above said plants.
Cheers, Jan
lomatia
20 years ago
Jan, at the recent Marysville flower show someone entered an arrangement of broom in the large bouquet section. I was horrified. It grows everywhere up there.
Spanish heath is another shocker - produces enormous amounts of very tiny seed.

Nursery plant of the year 1988

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Nursery plant of the year 1988

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