One of the world's most invasive weeds has been discovered on two Waikato maize farms, after decades of trying to control it. Velvetleaf can grow up to 2.5 metres tall, it has large, heart-shaped ...

In fact, velvetleaf can be best described as a weed, according to the University of Wisconsin's Horticulture Department. It is invasive and "extremely competitive" with other plants. Per the ...

Velvetleaf was first found in New Zealand in the early 2000s, with infestations of the cropping weed mostly concentrated around Auckland and Waikato. Its prevalence was exacerbated by the fodder ...