The robust flowering plant agapanthus will join a national hit-list of weeds if an environmental protection group gets its way.
Weedbusters is calling for agapanthus to be added to the National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA).
Its addition to the NPPA would see the sale, propagation and distribution stopped. The plant is already banned by Auckland Regional Council.
Carolyn Lewis, the national coordinator of Weedbusters, says agapanthus is a prolific seeder that can crowd out native plants.
"As far as biodiversity goes it's a major problem now," Ms Lewis says.
"Once these things actually get into the natural areas, they're really difficult to get rid of, they're very costly to get rid of."
"It's one of those plants that people tend to stick in [their garden] to fill a gap and then it takes on a life of its own."
People would not have to remove it from their gardens if it is added to the list, but the sale of the plant would be banned.
Still, Department of Conservation (DOC) weed ecologist Clayton Howell says agapanthus doesn't meet the requirements for the NPPA because its distribution is already so widespread.
"There's more than 2000 exotic plants naturalised in New Zealand and we don't see value in banning all of them."
Mr Howell says there would be greater benefit in banning other plants with a more restricted distribution.
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry spokesman John Randall says a list of plants to be considered for NPPA inclusion is out for consultation and submissions are due January 20.
The NPPA is a voluntary cooperative agreement between a number of government agencies, regional councils and the Nursery and Garden Industry Association to limit the commercial distribution and spread of invasive plant species.
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