Moth plant
Moth plant in flower
Moth plant, Araujia sericifera is an invasive South American vine and is also known as kapok vine, mothvine, milkvine, milk weed, wild choko vine, and cruel plant. Cultivated throughout New Zealand, this plant has naturalised, and is ever spreading in warmer parts of the country such as Northland.
Flowering from December to May, the mass of waxy white flowers sometimes tinged with pink are pretty for sure, but no prettier than native alternatives. Moth plant is sometimes called "cruel plant" probably because its flowers can trap visiting insects such as moths, butterflies and bees.
The threat of moth plant in Northland
The particular problem of moth plant is its ability to grow rapidly to the tops of forest canopies where it forms huge, heavy, long-lived masses, with windborne seed travelling long distances.
The Poor Knights, and Hen and Chicken Islands on Northland's east coast, support a truly wonderful array of rare plants and animals. These islands are some of the jewels in the crown for Northland conservation, and New Zealand conservation success stories. The islands are methodically searched for moth plant each year, both in spring and summer. The weed team scans for new sites, and visits historic sites, to remove plants.
How you can help stop the spread of moth plant in Northland
If you live on Northland's east coast from Whananaki through to Bream Bay and have moth plant in your garden, then it could be your moth plant seeds, blowing over to the Islands each year.
You can do your bit for native plants and animals in your part of Northland by getting rid of your local moth plant. Each individual removed reduces the plant's propagation pressure in our region, thus lending a helping hand to the native systems struggling under a number of pressures such as weeds and animal pests, or habitat loss through fire or other means.
When moth plant flowering is over, pods are present. These pods make spotting the species easy, as they are distinctive, green, pear sized, and somewhat pear shaped, and burst to release white fluffy seeds.
To get weedbusting in your patch, pull off the pods before seed spread. Wear gloves as the milky sap irritates skin. Dispose of the pods in a landfill for deep burial, or soak them in a drum until the seeds have rotted - add some seaweed to brew your own garden liquid fertiliser. I find myself pulling pods off where ever I go, I find pleasure in it, and it's an addiction I cannot curb.
To remove a vine, cut it off at 2-3cm under ground, with a good sharp gardening knife, and leave it to die, then follow-up on seedlings in the area for 3-4 years.
Don't be shy to offer your neighbour some help with their vine. It is one step to recognise a pest plant, and another important step to take local action, and you never know it could be the start of a wonderful friendship.
For large infestations clear off desirable trees and spray carefully with120mls Banvine per 10 litres water or 120 mls Brushkiller per 10 litres water. In small urban sections hand removal is recommended.
More information is available at www.weedbusters.org.nz, and you can register there as a weedbusting individual or group, linking you to a network of Weedbusters in Northland, and a range of support.
The Northland Regional Council's, Biosecurity Team, are not able to remove your moth plant for you, but are always on hand as a point of contact, to offer advice on identification or control options - call them on 0800 002 004. Moth plant is an unwanted organism in New Zealand and is banned from sale, distribution and propagation.
Plant non-weedy alternatives for moth plant
With any weed work it is wise to consider appropriate replanting. Putting desirable plants in the place formerly taken by weeds can help keep weed re-growth at bay. It's the minimal work, non-chemical weed control method.
Great non-weedy climbing alternatives, with pretty flowers, are
- puawananga (Clematis paniculata)
- star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
- natives available at your local garden centre.
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