genus, species, hybrids and subspecies, was developed to limit the spread of plant pests. Invasive plants are classified as such on a regional basis with some plants declared as national plant pests. The Department of Conservation also lists 328 vascular plant species as environmental weeds. Some of the better-known invasive plant species are: Acacia species (mostly Australian) especially wattle Acanthus - bear's breeches Agapanthus Arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia) Arundo donax - giant reed (or elephant grass) Asiatic knotweed (Reynoutria japonica or Fallopia japonica) Banana passionfruit Blackberry Boneseed (Chrysanthemoides monilifera) Boxthorn (Lycium ferossimum) Broom (Cytisus scoparius) Buckthorn (Rhamnus alaternus) Californian thistle (Cirsium arvense) Cape sundew (Drosera capensis) Cape tulip Castor oil plant (Ricinus communis) Christmasberry (Schinus terebinthifolius) Climbing asparagus (Asparagus scandens) Darwin's barberry (Berberis darwnii) Didymosphenia geminata ("didymo" or "rock snot") Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense) Glyceria maxima, also called Poa aquatica Gorse (Ulex europaeus) Heather (Calluna vulgaris) Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) Jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum) Kahili ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum) Lantana camara Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) Lupin Madeira vine (Anredera cordifolia) Mexican daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus) Mexican devil (Ageratina adenophora) Mile-a-minute (Dipogon lignosus) Mistflower (Ageratina riparia) Morning glory (Convolvulus) Moth plant (Araujia sericifera) Old man's beard (Clematis vitalba) Oxygen weed (Egeria) Oxygen weed (Lagarosiphon major) Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) Privet Tree privet (Ligustrum lucidum) Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) Queen of the night (Cestrum nocturnum) Ragwort Rhododendron ponticum Royal fern (Osmunda regalis) Salix cinerea (gray willow) Salix × fragilis (crack willow) Scotch thistle (Onopordum acanthium) Smilax (Asparagus asparagoides) Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) Tradescantia fluminensis Water pennywort (Hydrocotyle umbellata) Woolly nightshade (Solanum mauritianum) Yellow flag (Iris pseudacorus) The city of Auckland has been declared to be the weediest city in the world. See also Fauna of New Zealand Invasive species of New Zealand origin Animals in New Zealand Gypsy moths in New Zealand Painted apple moth in New Zealand Plants in New Zealand Blue morning glory in New Zealand Wilding conifer References Further reading External links Biosecurity New Zealand NZ Government Agency responsible for biosecurity New Zealand Department of Conservation - animal pests New Zealand Department of Conservation - plant pests (weeds) Searchable database on unwanted organisms at the Ministry for Primary Industries Information on plant pests at Weedbusters PestWebNZ Publications Invasive species New Zealand