Weed Watch

It’s a rhubarb which definitely rubs you up the wrong way.

The ‘‘garden ornamental plant’’ Chilean rhubarb now features firmly on the regional pest management plan’s pest plant list.

Chilean rhubarb has already caused significant environmental damage to parts of the Taranaki and Manawatu-Wanganui regions, forming dense stands which exclude indigenous species.

It has historically been planted in public and private gardens.

The risks of garden escapees like Chilean rhubarb damaging gully and rivers systems in Waikato is significant.

So it’s now designated a ‘‘progressive containment’’ pest. This means landowners are responsible for removing all Chilean rhubarb on their property.

Chilean rhubarb has massive umbrella-sized leaves.

Stems are covered in rubbery prickles and plants have a robust root system. Tolerant to shady conditions, it can grow almost anywhere, forming large invasive clumps that can be three metres high.

The clumps shade out other plants and take over whole areas of native habitat.

Plants grow vigorously during spring and early summer. Tiny green flowers form on large spikes over summer, and are followed by tiny red fruit.

The fruit is dispersed by the birds and a single spike can produce 80,000 seeds.

If you’ve come across Chilean rhubarb, please undertake steps to control it or contact Waikato Regional Council’s biosecurity pest plants team on 0800 800 401. Advice on control can also be found at weedbuster.org.nz.