A new weed discovered, and an old one finally gone.

Liz June 17th, 2025

Monday 16 June 2025 was a great day for beating the weeds on Roy Clements Treeway.

Sel Arbuckle had spotted a new pest intruder – he thought Schefflera – hiding in the fork of a big totara tree. Today Dan Blanchon the Auckland Museum Conservator collected a sample and confirmed it as: Heptapleurum arboricola (formerly Schefflera), from China. While it needs to be removed, the museum was pleased to have a more recent record than their existing two (from Ellerslie Racecourse (1998) and Auckland Airport (2000)). Well done Sel for tracking the pest plant’s journey from garden to forest. Thanks Dan for following up and confirming species.

Dan Blanchon is holding a specimen of the new pest Schefflera, while talking with Sel of STEPS.

Heptapleurum arboricola has 7-9 leaflets in a palm shape. Similar to NZ native pate or 7 finger.

This Heptapleurum (Schefflera) has a long grey stalk to the ground.

Nearby, we were overjoyed to discover that after more than 15 years of requests – Auckland Council had removed a large Acer Negundo (Box Elder), at the Gribblehirst overflow tunnel. Thank you Parks Team. This pest plant can be found on the DOC 2024 weed list. We still have one other male tree opposite a MAGS’ female tree, and causing dozens of new seedlings to grow each year.