Know your alien plants: Dwarf schefflera
In the fourth edition of the alien invasive series, the Northglen News takes a look at the Dwarf schefflera tree.
IN the leafy suburbs of KwaZulu-Natal, the subject of alien invasive plants has raised the ire of many conservationists. Environmentalists regularly remind the public about the destructive vegetation and the impact they can have on our country’s biodiversity.
However, these aliens have, in recent months, become a thorn in the side of home owners, as new National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) regulations state that ‘the seller of any immovable property must, prior to the relevant sale agreement, notify the purchaser of the property in writing of the presence of listed invasive species on that property.’ This is according to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA).
Home owners who are planning to sell will either have to hire an accredited invasive species practitioner or dust off their gardening books to catalogue these ‘blooming’ pests. Failure to comply could lead to hefty fines.
Now, the Northglen News and the Duzi uMngeni Conservation Trust (DUCT) have collaborated to bring readers a series of articles on various alien invasive species. We will be getting up close and personal with their identifying features, what makes them so troublesome in our backyards and how they can be eradicated. This week we will be looking at Schefflera arboricola, also known as Dwarf Schefflera, a popular garden and house plant originating from Taiwan.
Schefflera arboricola aka Dwarf schefflera
According to Bart Fokkens of DUCT, the Dwarf Schefflera is multi-stemmed and can be ‘bonsaied easily’.
“The evergreen palmate leaves make it an attractive plant all year round, but especially so when in flower. It however poses a similar threat as the Queensland Umbrella Tree (schefflera actinophylla) by producing vast quantities of seeds which are spread by birds,” he added. The dwarf schefflera is considered to be a category three invasive plant.
To remove the alien plant one would need to cut it down and implement a ‘cit-stump’ treatment with an approved herbicide. The herbacide can be brushed or sprayed onto the stump.
For landscaping purposes, Fokkens suggests using the following invasive plants to replace the alien invasive Dwarf schefflera in local gardens: mahogany trees (or Trichelia emetica and Trichelia dregeana) or Dune Soap Berry shrubs (Deinbollia oblongifolia).
Category 3: Invasive species regulated by activity. An individual plant permit is required to undertake any of the following restricted activities – import, possess, grow, breed, move, sell, buy or accept as a gift – involving a category 3 species. No permits will be issued for category 3 plants to exist in riparian zones.
Previously we have reported on
