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Pest Plants identified in the Redwood Bush Reserve
A total of 70 adventive plant species have been found occurring in Redwood Bush, of which 11 are Categorised as Pest Plants.
There is one Category A plant species (Old Man's Beard) found in the Bush. Category A pest plants require total control and the WCC and WRC both have active programmes to eliminate Old Man's Beard from the Wellington Region.
There are ten Category B plant species found in the Bush. Category B pest plants require active control and elimination if possible, and if not possible then control of the boundary areas so the infestations do not spread further. Of these Tradescantia and Japanese Honeysuckle are more widespread and pose the greatest threat to the broad-leaved forest. The remainder including artillery plant, jasmine, plectranthus, cape ivy, and ivy, occur sparingly and localised and they should be controlled before their populations become more extensive.
The following is a complete list of adventive species known to be found in Redwood Bush. This list is typical of other bush reserves in the Tawa area.
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Ref |
| DICOTYLEDONOUS TREES AND SHRUBS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cotoneaster sp. | cotoneaster |  |
| Cytisus scoparius | broom . | |
| Leycesteria formosa | Himalayan honeysuckle | |
| Lonicera japonoca | Japanese honeysuckle . | B |
| Prunus sp. | flowering cherry . | |
| Sambucus niger | elder | 2% d |
| Ulex europaeus | gorse | 0% |
| DICOTYLEDONOUS LIANES AND RELATED TRAILING PLANTS | ||
| Asparagus scandens | Climbing Asparagus (Snakefeather) | |
| Clematis vitalba | old man's beard . | A |
| Hedera helix | ivy | B 0% |
| Rubus fruiticosus agg. | blackberry . | |
| Ipomea indica | Blue Morning Glory | |
| GRASSES | ||
| Agrostis capillaris | browntop | |
| Anthoxanthum odoratum | sweet vernal | 0% g d |
| Dactylis glomerata | cocksfoot | 8% g |
| Holcus lanatus | Yorkshire fog | 0% g d |
| Hordum murinum | barley grass | |
| Lolium perenne | perennial rye grass | 2% g d |
| Paspalum dilatatum | paspalum . | |
| Poa annua | annual poa | 2% g d |
| Poa pratensis | 2% g d | |
| REMAINING MONOCOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS | ||
| Cortaderia selloana | pampus . | |
| Iris sp. | iris | 2% d |
| DAISY-LIKE HERBS (COMPOSITES) | ||
| Carduus tenuiflorus | winged thistle | 2% g d |
| Cirsium vulgare | Scotch thistle | 8% g |
| Conyza albida | fleabane | 12% g |
| Hypochoeris radicata | catsear | 8% g |
| Mycelis muralis | wall lettuce | 2% d |
| Senecio glastifolius | holly-leaved senecio | z |
| Senecio jacobaea | ragwort | 6% g |
| Senecio sylvaticus | wood froundsel | 0% g |
| Sonchus oleraceus | sow thistle / puha | 6% g |
| Taraxacum officinale | dandelion | 4% g d |
| DICOTYLEDONOUS HERBS OTHER THAN COMPOSITES | ||
| Cerastium fontanum | annual mouse-ear chick weed | 2% g d |
| Conium maculentum | hemlock . | |
| Digitalis purpurea | foxglove | 4% g |
| Galium aparine | cleavers | 24% g |
| Geranium molle | dove’s foot geranium | 2% g |
| Geranium robertianum | herb Robert | 2% g |
| Hypericum androsaemum | tutsan | 4% g |
| Mentha spicata | spearmint . | |
| Myosotis sylvatica | wood forget-me-not | 0% d |
| Oxalis corniculata | oxalis | 2% d |
| Phytolacca octandra | inkweed . | |
| Plantago lanceolata | narrow-leaved plantain | 2% g d |
| Prunella vulgaris | self heal | 4% g |
| Ranunculus repens | creeping buttercup | 0% g |
| Rumex acetosella | sheep’s sorrel | |
| Rumex obtusifolius | dock . | |
| Rumex pulcher | fiddle dock | |
| Solanum chenopodioides | velvety nightshade . | |
| Solanum nigrum | black nightshade | 12% g |
| Stellaria media | chickweed | 4% g d |
| Tradescantia fluminensis | tradescantia / wandering jew | B |
| Trifolium repens | white clover | 2% g d |
| Vicia hirsuta | hairy vetch | 2% g d |
| Vicia sativa | vetch | 2% g d |
| Acacia melanoxylon | Tasmanian blackwood . | B |
| Achillea millefolium | yarrow . | |
| Bellis perennis | daisy . | |
| Bromus willdenowii | praire brome . | |
| Buddleia davidii | buddelia . | |
| Chrysanthemum sp. | chrysanthemum . | |
| Clematis sp. | ornamental clematis . | B |
| Crepis capillaris | hawksear . | |
| Crocosmia x crocosmiflora | montbretia . | |
| Ehrharta erecta | veld grass . | |
| Erica sp. | heath . | |
| Euphorbia peplus | milkwead . | |
| Foeniculum vulgare | fennel . | |
| Fumaria muralis | scrambling fumitory . | |
| Galeobdolon luteum | artillery plant . | B |
| Gnaphalium coarctatum | cudweed . | |
| Grevillea robusta | silky oak . | |
| Hydrangea macrophylla | hydrangea . | |
| Ilex aquifolium | holly . | B |
| Jasminum polyanthum | jasmine . | B |
| Kniphofia uvaria var. nobilis | red hot poker . | |
| Loyus pedunculatus | lotus . | |
| Lupinus arboreus | lupin . | |
| Monstera deliciosa | fruit salad plant . | |
| Plectranthus ciliatus | plectranthus . | B |
| Senecio bipinnatisectus | Australian firewood . | |
| Senecio mikanioides | German ivy . | B |
| Stachys sylvatica | hedge woundwort . | |
| Tropaeolum majus | garden nasturtium . | |
REFS:
1. “Bush Remnants at Tawa” I.A.E. Atkinson Botany Division, D.S.I.R. 1972
2. Boffa Miskell report prepared for the WCC, "Vegetation Management Guidelines for Redwood Bush & Larsen Crescent Reserves Tawa" Oct 1998
3. Taxa updated by Wellington Botanical Society following their field trip on 6 Sept 2003.
A = Category A pest plant in Boffa Miskell Vegetation Report
B = Category B pest plant in Boffa Miskell Vegetation Report
d = recorded only from Judgeford Silt Loam
g = present only in canopy gaps
t = recorded by Atkinson (1972) but not seen in Bagnal (1975) study
z = noted after 2002 but not recorded in Atkinson (1972) or Bagnal (1975) study
% = frequency of occurence in 50 circular sample plots of 2m radius (within main bush area, not margins) - from Bagnall survey
= listed as a Pest Pant in the Greater Wellington 2002-2022 Pest Management Streategy.