An Aussie witnessed an invasive plant ‘resurrect’ from the dead after spotting tiny shoots emerge in her garden weeks after she thought she killed the plant. The scene has reignited a warning against planting the ‘horrible’ species which is not only a “major weed” that can take over native habitats, authorities recently told Yahoo it also poses serious health risks.
The West Australian woman shared that she had recently pulled the Robinia tree, also known as black locust, from her garden after discovering that it was causing damage to her home. But it wasn’t long before the plant reared its ugly head again.
“We recently pulled out a tree in our front yard as it was starting to damage our house,” the woman wrote online. “Little did I know that this tree was going to resurrect from the dead and start growing legit everywhere.”
The shoots can be seen popping up in both the front and backyards, through the decking and even at the neighbour’s house. “How do I stop this monster before it does any more damage to my house?” the woman pleaded.
Robinia is poisonous if ingested by either humans or animals. Source: Facebook
Robinia tree poses serious health risks
Experts say while the tree is “lovely” looking, it can actually pose a serious threat to the health of both animals and humans — and can even result in paralysis.
Invasive Species Council’s Dr Carol Booth recently told Yahoo after one of the trees was found in another Aussie’s garden that it’s “definitely not a tree we should plant in Australia,” adding “It’s also poisonous to livestock and humans.”
If ingested by a human, Robinia can cause symptoms like nausea, weakness, and even paralysis in severe cases.
How to remove ‘poisonous’ invasive tree
As is the case in the West Australian backyard, remnants of the tree can remain “years” after being treated, Booth said, meaning that it can grow back at any time with a vengeance.
Another woman lamented that it took “three years” to get rid of them in her garden. “Just keep cutting off and poisoning the suckers as they appear,” she suggested.
Booth agreed that “chemical treatment” is required frequently in order to control the weed which, due to its rapid growth and spread through seeds and root suckers, can outcompete native plants and disrupt ecosystems. It also alters the composition of soil by adding nitrogen.
“It can be difficult to control because it grows rapidly and can sucker from its roots.”
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