14 Jan Pampas lily of the valley
Salpichroa origanifolia
Pampas Lily grows in full shade or sun, sand
or wetlands, and tolerates long dry periods.
It grows rapidly and can completely smother
other vegetation. Once established, the plant is
difficult to remove.
Family: Solanaceae
Origin: South America
Habit: A scrambling or climbing perennial herb.
Leaves: Oval shaped leaves are unequal in size, shortly hairy, with leaf
stalks about the same length as the leaf blades.
Flowers: Bell-shaped whitish flowers 6 - 8mm long, form at the leaf axils.
Fruit: Smooth yellow berry when ripe, containing about twenty
brown to pale yellow flattened seeds. The plant has a thick,
woody, extensive mostly horizontal root system, which can be
up to 1 metre deep.
Roots: Extensive horizontal woody root system (up to 1 m depth)
Dispersal: Reproduces from seed and root segments, which are spread by
birds and machinery.
Control: Seedlings can be removed by hand. Mature plants have
horizontal roots up to 3m long and 1m deep. They can be
removed by persistent digging over several seasons. Fruit should
be cut and bagged. Permits to use chemicals are being sought.
