The wisteria, a much-loved feature of many public, private and formal gardens throughout Britain, is under threat from a scale recently arrived from Asia.

Experts at the UK's leading organic charity, Warwickshire-based Garden Organic, have identified the new pest as wisteria scale which is thought to have arrived in this country on imported plants.

Garden Organic advisors have also issued an ominous warning that wisteria is not the only plant at risk, as the scale has been reported on both sycamore and fruit trees in Asia - putting the UK's fruit growing industry on red alert.

The scale differs to a normal specimen - usually flat and brown - as it grows a grey egg sack around it before the thousands of eggs hatch and swarm over the plant. Garden Organic - formerly known as the HDRA - recommend the following organic methods of control;

*Prune out badly affected areas and burn
*Spray with a natural organic spray
*Scrub away small infestations with a toothbrush or squash by hand

Although only isolated cases in South London have been reported so far, gardeners are asked to be vigilant and regularly check wisteria plants for any sign of attack.