from Brisbane City Council website https://weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.... Part of the article reads: "Polkadot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) is regarded as an environmental weed in parts of Queensland and New South Wales, and as a ""sleeper weed"" or potential environmental weed in other parts of Australia.

It's such a pretty plant! I had no idea it was considered to be a weed anywhere!

In the middle of a cornfield, a rose bush would be a weed. In the middle of a rose garden, a corn plant would be a weed.

This is my first time hearing the phrase "environmental weed."

purpleinopp said:

This is my first time hearing the phrase "environmental weed."

It is a common term of reference here when what had been plants from gardens, perhaps over the years have been dumped in bushland, then progressively multiplied to eventually become an environmental disaster. Choking waterways and overtaking indigenous species of flora etc.

Lantana is another one which is rife in our bushland locations. https://landcareaustralia.org.... Landcare Australia voluntary workers work diligently to try and control ''environmental weeds" such as these.

Thanks! They are called invasive in the US.

got it; thanks Tiffany. Interesting to compare and become aware of the differences via the forums.