The distribution and status of alien plants in a small South African town

- Urban alien plant surveys need high inputs of search effort & taxonomic expertise.
- In small towns, gardens contain the bulk of alien plant species diversity.
- Extreme garden heterogeneity means shortened surveys will miss species.
- Many of the most abundant alien species are naturalized, weedy or invasive.
- Invasion debt is high and small towns can launch invasions into surrounding areas.