there are lots of plants sold in nurseries that can be environmental pests, just that a lot of gardeners are not interested in having safer native/indemic plants.

here are some more: the crucifix orchid, queen palm, coral tree, golden rain tree, agave's. some because the birds and bats carry the seeds others because people dump unwanted plants in the bush but the list would be bigger than what i ahve suggested. and when we destroy the bio-diversity we make even native plants weeds ie.,. silky oaks and yellow guavas for two, as well plants native to one area become weeds in other areas.

as well olive trees grown for production can become weeds when birds carry off the seeds.

len

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Going one step further, any plant growing outside its native habitat can be considered a weed, especially if it has the potential to become naturalised to the detriment of indigenous species. So the vast majority of our garden vegetables and fruit, as well as ornamentals like roses and wisteria, could also be included in your weeds list. We've seen what lantana has done to our native plants. It's well within the realms of possibility that pumpkin and passionfruit and sweet potato and choko vines could one day pose a similar threat. Food for thought, so to speak.

If we fought against all those being available for sale in our nurseries, we'd soon be complaining loudly enough about lack of choices! The key to buying 'weeds'therefore, is responsibility for controlling them within our own little environment - our backyards. Not everyone has the same sense of responsibility, so public education would seem to be a step towards a solution. However, you're fighting against the human propensity to defy and try to defeat Nature. If someone wants an asparagus fern in their native garden, they'll have it, come what may!

Asparagus fern grows wild along the road where I live (just outside Brisbane) and the birds are the spreaders of this weed and it comes up in the garden and the lawn.

Environmental weeds are not necessarily illegal where as a "Declared Weed" is. Declared weeds get a "P" rating where P1 is the worst kind and if it was deliberately introduced then big fines will apply. If it is a lesser weed, say P4 then this may only require you remove the weed within a given time. (Note. P4 is only used to illustrate the point, I am not sure which is the correct number).

To take this further the Camphor Laurel, Jacaranda, Coral Tree etc. are environmental weeds but it is not illegal to own one. The above comments will vary fron State to State.

Doug.

Saintin