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Plants along beaches

   I took a short walk along the beach in the village of Swansea, admiring
the view of the bay and noticing the plants.  Gazania, alyssum, African
boxthorn, centranthus ruber, coprosma, echium fastuosum. The echium is not
blooming at present, but when in bloom is spectacular, with flower spikes
about 30cm long, clear blue flowers with a fuzz of purple stamens which
look as though they are sizzling with electricity.
   The boxthorn, Lycium ferocissimum, is likely to impress you painfully
rather than favourably, but the others are popular and garden-worthy plants.
   I can see what these garden escapees have replaced when I walk along the
beaches outside of town. On the wilder beaches where the shearwaters and
penguins have their villages, reserves have been established where you find
plants such as the silver mounds of Leucophyta brownii; dainty Pelargonium
australe; Lagurus ovatus, the Hare's tail grass; Acaena anserinifolia,
which has soft 2-cm burrs which children stick together like velcro to make
necklaces. Noticeable at present is a grass about 30 cm tall with seed
heads 20 cm across which look rather like large golden spiders. The seeds
form a central cluster, surrounded by curving awns about 10 - 12 cm long
which look like spider legs. When the heads are completely ripe they break
off the stalk and are rolled along by the wind, miniature tumbleweeds. (If
anyone can identify this grass from my amateur description, please tell me
what it is.)
   These colonies of native plants look pristine and untouched, but in fact
human intervention is needed to maintain them. Exotic weeds invade, and
have to be regularly removed by Parks & Wildlife staff, or by groups of
volunteers such as Coastcare or Tasmanian Conservation Trust.
   There are many reasons to preserve areas of native plants, here and
elsewhere. One reason which appeals to plant collectors is so that there
will be sources of seed to collect!
   In my garden, though, I like to grow all sorts of things, plants from
all over the world. But I don't want to be the next well-meaning gardener
who unleashes an environmental weed. What can I do to prevent the unwanted
spread of plants which might become problems outside the garden?  How do
you other gardeners balance the need to preserve flora native to your areas
against the desire to grow exotic species in your gardens?

    Elizabeth Morgan, on Tasmania's east coast
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