Plant Doctor Archive

Strangled by moth plants

WHAT'S the best way to control the moth plants that are clambering over flax in my native garden?

IDEALLY, pull the moth plants free from the flax and follow it back to its roots. If you can, dig out the roots and leave the plant to die in the sun.

Make sure you don't leave any moth plant fruits lying around, as they can dry out and release seeds even when the plant is dead. They look like green quinces and are sometimes mistaken for the edible choko, but moth plant fruits are toxic.

You should be able to dig or pull out the root system quite easily, but if it's too hard you could cut the stem and treat what's left with a herbicide such as Vigilant or Woody Weedkiller - follow the label instructions. And be on the lookout for young moth plants cropping up nearby; pull them out before they get established.

Reproduced with permission from the former Weekend Gardener magazine. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the RNZIH.