Watch out for this pretty flower
Green thumbs are being asked to watch out for a beautiful but toxic flower that could be growing in their backyards.
What you need to know:
- Every part of the plant is poisonous, and can cause gastroenteritis, thirst, paralysis, blindness, and heart and kidney failure.
- This plant is hardy and normal pest control efforts are often not enough to eradicate.
- The cape tulip, growing up to 90cm high with one strap-like leaf, was introduced to Aotearoa in the 1940s, the Ministry for Primary Industries’ manager for pest management John Sanson said. “Cape tulips, like many of these invasive weeds, are really attractive ornamental species ...but they escape over people’s backyard fences and into pasture, as these things often do,”
- It was classified as a noxious plant in the late 1970s after they were discovered to cause harm to livestock and humans, even killing animals when too much as ingested.
- The salmon-pink flowers bloom for about two days a year between June and December, and have previously been an ornamental species for keen gardeners.
Sanson urged people who believed they had the weed growing on their property to leave it untouched and contact Biosecurity New New Zealand’s Exotic Pest and Disease on 0800 80 99 66.
Once a site was confirmed, manual removal or chemical treatment would start.
Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
🎉 2026 is almost here!
We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?
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10.3% Yes! New Year, New Me
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20.3% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
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69.3% Nah - not for me
🌿 n8tidy – Week #6 Garden Clean-Up Giveaway!
Comment “I’m in!” to enter – Winner drawn each Wednesday
Hi neighbours! 👋
Welcome to Week #6 of our new community giveaway! Last one for 2025.
One lucky neighbour will win 1 hour of free gardening/yard clean-up from n8tidy this week.
How to participate
💬 Comment “I’m in!” below to enter
📅 Entries close Wednesday at 6 pm
🎲 Draw will take place Wednesday evening
5️⃣ Minimum 5 participants required
🙅 Current n8tidy customers cannot participate
🔄 You can join again every week!
What you can use your free hour for
- Weed removal
- Edging & trimming
- Light pruning
- Lawn/Garden tidy-up
No green waste collection
The winner will be contacted directly to arrange their free clean-up hour.
Good luck everyone — and thanks for supporting local! 🌿😊
Fred - n8tidy
www.n8tidy.co.nz...
🎉The Riddler wants to hear from you 🫵
🧩 Got a riddle that can stump your Neighbourly community? Share your brain teasers with us and watch your neighbours scratch their heads 😕🤔❓
Send us your tricky puzzles!
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