Welcome wildlife into your garden with these indigenous alternative plants
This series highlights common alien invasive plants to avoid and indigenous alternatives that will attract wildlife into your garden.
Jane Troughton of the Durban North Conservancy and Enviro Fixers has put together a pamphlet of the worst invaders in Durban North. In a series, she will highlight common alien invasive plants and suggest indigenous alternatives to grow which will attract wildlife such as birds and butterflies to your garden. To request a pamphlet which has colour images and protocols for removing alien plants, email Troughton via: janetroughton.mjt@gmail.com
Alien: Butterfly Orchid tree (Bauhinia purpurea).
“This plant is so pervasive in Durban North and so attractive most people are not aware that it is an alien invasive. They grow very large, crowding out space for our local plants and drain so much water from the ground that little survives underneath them. There is a white and pink/purple form. To remove, its is best to cut to a stump and apply diesel and herbicide,” said Troughton.
Alternatives: African Dog Rose (Xylotheca kraussiana) and Snuff-box Tree (Oncoba spinosa).
Both these plants have large rose-like sweetly scented white flowers with a central mass of yellow stamens, said Troughton.
“They Xylotheca has the added bonus of being the foodplant for the Blood-red and Window Acrea butterflies. Both trees are magnets for insects which in turn draw the birds. The Oncoba, additionally, has thorns making it an excellent barrier plant,” she added.
Alien: Triffid Weed (Chromolaena odorata)
“It’s a common site on a road and freeway verges. One of our most problematic plants. To remove, hand pull if possible or cut back and spray with herbicide,” said Troughton.
Alternative: Cape Honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis)
“This is a far more productive and beautiful shrub with similar, trumpet-shaped flowers available in deep red, to orange, mango and yellow. The natural orange is the biggest magnet for sunbirds, 10 moth species and the Common Blue butterfly. It makes an excellent screen or hedge but may need some pruning in a small garden,” she said.
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