Know your invasive plants
Patterson’s curse (Echium
plantagineum) is a deep-rooted biennial up to 1m high which bears such pretty blue or purple flowers from October to April that many gardeners want it in their gardens. However, this plant is poisonous and invades open veld along roadsides, cultivated land and pastures, spreading easily by means of seed dispersal. Also known as Franklin weed, purple echium or salvation Jane, this plant’s leaves and stems are covered with coarse, white hairs. It is a major problem throughout the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, as well as parts of the Free State and Mpumalanga.
Invasive status
Category 1b invasive plant, which means that it must be removed from your property to avoid prosecution.
Why is it a problem?
It competes with cultivated crops, pasture species and indigenous ruderal species. The plant is also poisonous and a skin irritant.
CONTACT invasives.org.za