Family: Asteraceae

High Risk Traits:

• Can grow and spread in regions with Mediterranean to subtropical climates.
  
• A South African native naturalized in regions of Europe, North America, New Zealand, and established and apparently naturalized on Hawaii Island
  
• A weed of natural areas in California, capable of invading undisturbed scrub and displacing native species
  
• Other Helichrysum species are invasive weeds.
  
• Unpalatable to deer and probably other browsing animals
  
• Tolerates many soil types.
  
• Reported to form dense stands.
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by rooting stems.
  
• Hybridizes with other Helichrysum species.
  
• Reported to reach reproductive maturity in 2 years.
  
• Seeds dispersed by wind, and through intentional cultivation.
  
• Vegetative fragments spread in dumped garden waste.
  
• Reported to produce large numbers of seeds.
  
• May be able to establish after fire (from seed)

Low Risk Traits:

• Although invading natural areas in California, reported to spread slowly, and impacts on native ecosystems have not been quantified.
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• No confirmed reports of toxicity (although a few websites claim it is poisonous)
  
• Grows best in high light environments (dense shade may inhibit spread)