Cape Mallow Vigorous Rogue?

Does anyone have these shrubs? We want to know if the roots are invasive to our septics and leach drains.

We planted a few of these innocent-looking shrubs with pink flowers (Anisodontea Dryspell) three years ago in our new garden after retirement.

The label says "low maintenance easy to grow 1.5 m by 1.5 m. We thought "Perfect". Instead we have dense rampant monsters about 4 m by 4 m with tangled branches at all angles some as thick as your leg! Also the label says "responds well to regular trimming. You bet! the cuttings root themselves and we were silly enough to plant a hedge the first year to protect our mini orchard. They now threaten to overrun our citrus fruit trees. Cuttings to keep them in check provide wood for about 5 bonfires when allowed.

Just a warning to anyone thinking of a low maintenance garden!!

8 comments

Thanks Brian for the warning -- I had a rogue shrub that was native and went crazy all over my front garden -- and the only way I can keep it in order is to mow it all the time -- I also have a heliconia -- in a pot -- but have heard they can also be rampant -- does anyone know if this is true -- it has not flowered as yet in the pot and I suspect it needs to be in the garden to allow it to flower I would be grateful if someone can tell me-- thanks

Lovely heliconias PlanB.  I have then in Sydney but never managed to get a flower on them.  Managed to kill the first one I ever bought but it was the wrong variety for Sydney.  These days I just manage to give them sunburn.

I got rid of all my shrubs, trees and Australian natives from my front and back yards years ago when i retired. I only kept a rhododendron and its companion azalea. They are easy to trim and manage, and provide stunning flowers. I got rid of the kikuyu and other rubbish grasses as well. I cleared out all the underground roots, removing about 20 cms of soil, using a dingo from Kennards. I spread new top soil and have planted grass from seed (Munns Fairway Green from Bunnings) all over. And I have never looked back. The grass looks terrific, really is low maintenance (I do weed and mow and water and fertilise) and adds tremendously to the charm of the house. Non grassed areas are all brick paved or covered in exposed aggregate paths and driveway, or are sown woth ground covers (Australian violets) and edged with English box hedge. Nothing is left open. Round Up is brilliant for getting rid of and controlling weeds in paths and bricked areas. There's no easy way to an attractive garden. Grass at least renews itself, is easy to oversow each spring, and is something an old geezer can still look after without risk. It took some work, but it ws more than worth it. Water costs, yes, but the beauty of a lush green expanse more then compensates. Ground covers provide flowers as an embellishment, and are easy to maintain. Box hedge is robust, requires little water and can be trimmed with a battery or electric trimmer.

It doesn't have to be Round Up you use. Any glyphosate will do and other brands are often cheaper.

 

Your yard/garden sounds wonderful.

Yes Rod.  Only trap is you have to insist on the 360g/litre concentration.  Some product dud people because they are watered down.

I have an Azalia and a Rhododendron garden and also other parts of my garden are Native as I like to grow natives because the birds and wildlife need the natives and I never use ANY Glyphosate EVER as it kills everything including insects and other needed critters -- which birds and other critters feed on and then it kills or deforms them as well -- if you have a small garden then why not use Vinegar -- or SLASHER --an organic weed killer --  it won't do damage -- Glysophate has a lot to answer for and is really damaging the planet. 

It looks like a pretty shrub, Brian. There is no mention on the net of it being a problem.

If I had my time over again with a garden I would avoid every single vine. They never give up and spread prolifically.

Gum trees are water seekers and will destroy pipes.

Even though I enjoy the agapanthus flower I would never plant them again either - they stifle the soil. It is so easy to make the wrong choices when wanting to grow a garden quickly. - and because they grow easily the nurseries sell them in abundance.

It's always worh checking, I guess, even if a label suggests a plant is okay.

It can depend where they are planted, too. I know lantana is a real pest in northern states but I have a lovely one in my garden (Tasmania) and it has never been any trouble.

"Low maintenance"  =  a weed which will likely invade your garden.

You should do more reading Brian as labels on plants at nurseries can vary between guidlines to totally inaccurate.  You sound like you got the latter.

I never got over nurseries selling people Norfolk Pines for their small suburban block.  Seems that was a competition between nurseries.  Who could sell the most.  Of course 10 years later when you have a big and growing tree its not their fault.

Good luck.  Nothing like research:  online or buy a Yates Garden book, the 500 page version, and happy reading.

Yes Mick also those darn Cocos Palms what a pest they have turned out to be --  have to check on everything

Cape Mallow is not suitable for planting near septics, they're too invasive. If you like them though, how about a very large pot, that's what I've done and they're doing well. 

The heliconia can be rampant PlanB even in a pot. Best to place the pot on a paving stone rather than bare earth, so the root has no chance of leaking through the holes of the pot and spreading. It's a tropical plant and needs lots of sun to flower.

So nice to read a sensible conversation, unlike those political "discussions" of late.

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