THE Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is urging home gardeners to hand in a prohibited plant mistakenly sold in Western Australia during summer.
The department’s invasive species priority weeds manager Kay Bailey said callisia repens, commonly known as creeping edge plant, was present in other states but was prohibited in WA due to its potential environmental impact.
Gardeners who recently purchased a callisia pink lady from Bunnings stores should return it to their store of purchase for a full refund.
Ms Bailey said the plant was sold at stores in the metropolitan area and regional areas including Albany, Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Bunbury and Busselton.
“It is a long-lived herbaceous plant with creeping stems forming dense mats of vegetation,” she said.
“This species grows into dense mats creating problems across a wide range of environments.
“It is spread by stem segments and seeds, which means it is easily spread via dumped garden waste.”
She said the department was working with Bunnings to raise customer awareness and locate the plants.
“We are working to recover about 800 plants which were sold during the December and January period.
Callisia repens leaves are densely clustered along the stems but gradually become smaller and more distant from each other along the flowering stems.
The small leaves (1cm to 4cm long) are usually green, often with numerous tiny purple spots or purplish margins.
The plant has small white flowers.
For more information contact the department’s pest and disease information service on 9368 3080 or email padis@dpird.wa.gov.au
