A push is underway to prohibit the sale of Gazania daisies at Bunnings Warehouse after a new study by La Trobe University indicates that these vibrant flowers may pose a more significant threat to Australian agriculture and native ecosystems than previously thought. Native to South Africa, Gazanias are known for their ability to thrive in various Australian environments and are already classified as environmental weeds.
Imogen Ebsworth, advocacy manager at the Invasive Species Council, expresses concern that Gazanias are overtaking native grasslands, coastlines, and even encroaching on agricultural areas, negatively affecting crop yields and incurring costs for farmers. She argues that the plant should be banned from sale across Australia, noting that they are already prohibited in South Australia. Ebsworth calls on the nursery industry to respond proactively to these findings.
The La Trobe University research reveals that a staggering 75% of listed weeds in Australia originated from ornamental plants, highlighting a failure in self-regulation in the nursery sector. Ebsworth emphasises that this is not merely an issue for retailers like Bunnings but rather a broader regulatory problem. She criticises the reliance on everyday consumers to identify whether a plant is a weed, stating that this has led to widespread planting of invasive species.
The study published in Frontiers in Agronomy underscores the significant economic impact of invasive weeds, estimating that they cost Australia over $5 billion annually in agricultural and environmental damage. Bunnings Warehouse, however, maintains that it adheres to local biosecurity regulations and decisions made by regulators regarding which plants to sell. They affirm that the availability of Gazanias varies by region in accordance with local regulations, urging shoppers to consult plant labels before purchase.
As debates continue over the ecological implications of Gazanias and their sale, conservation advocates insist that stronger measures must be taken to curtail the spread of such invasive species in order to protect Australia’s unique flora and agricultural vitality.