Ageratina adenophora
Crofton weed
Crofton weed is a rapid-spreading weed that has become a nuisance in many areas along the eastern coast of Australia. It is particularly invasive on cleared land that is not grazed, such as public reserves, and causes particular problems for horse owners. A member of the Asteraceae or daisy family, Crofton weed is a native of Mexico. It is present as a weed in India, Sri Lanka, the Canary Islands, Jamaica, mainland United States, Hawaii, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. Since its escape from ornamental cultivation in Australia about 1900, it has become widespread in Queensland coastal areas, on the [...]
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Clidemia hirta
Koster’s curse
Koster’s curse is a declared Class 1 Noxious Weed in NSW and is the target of a national eradication program. It is a highly invasive shrub, growing up to five metres tall and has the potential to spread rapidly over many parts of Australia. Koster’s curse forms dense thickets, which can smother pasture and native vegetation in a similar manner to lantana. It is quick-growing and could cause major problems for primary industries. It invades disturbed areas including the edges of clearings and stream-banks, along fence lines, paths and roadways. The weed prefers humid tropical lowlands and therefore could spread [...]
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Senecio madagascariensis
Fireweed
Fireweed is a highly invasive and opportunistic weed, native to south-eastern Africa. It quickly colonises overgrazed pastures and disturbed areas. It is a serious pasture weed of coastal NSW. It is able to grow on most soil types and in all aspects. It forms a persistent seedbank if not controlled before it flowers and can rapidly take over heavily grazed and neglected pastures, competing strongly with existing pasture plants. It seeds prolifically and grows to maturity quickly. Density is influenced by groundcover and competition, especially in autumn. Fireweed can quickly establish where ground has been cultivated or disturbed, or where [...]
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Chrysanthemoides monilifera - subsp. rotundata
Bitou bush
Bitou bush was once used to stabilise sand dunes, but has now become a significant weed in coastal areas. It is rated as the worst pest plant in the Australian coastal environment, restricting access to beaches and destroying native bushland. Where bitou bush invades the impacts include a decline in native plant communities; a decline in floral biodiversity; changes in the diversity of birds, mammals and ground-dwelling insects and harbouring of pest animals like foxes and introduced birds which disperse the seeds. Native to South Africa, bitou bush first found its way to Australia in 1908, dumped as ballast from ships [...]
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Ligustrum lucidum
Broad-leaf privet
Broad-leaf privet originates from eastern Asia and has become a widespread weed of disturbed land, pastoral areas and native bushland in coastal NSW. It grows as an evergreen shrub or small tree to a height of 4-10 metres. The brown bark is covered in small white lenticels (pores that allow gas exchange). Pointed oval-shaped leaves occur in opposite pairs, and are 4-13 cm long and 3-6 cm wide. The upper leaf surface is dark green and glossy or shiny, while the under-surface is paler with distinct veins. Leaves are hairless. Cream or white tubular flowers with four petal-like lobes occur [...]
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Caesalpinia decapetala
Mysore thorn
Mysore thorn is a perennial shrub, growing to 2-4 metres, or a sprawling climber to 15 metres high, which readily forms a dense impenetrable thicket. It has tap roots and lateral roots. Mysore thorn is a vigorous growing plant capable of climbing and engulfing native vegetation, fences, sheds, bridges and other infrastructure. The long spines of the Mysore thorn can inflict serious injury to humans and animals, native and domestic. Mysore thorn forms dense thickets restricting access of stock and machinery to vital areas like water, pastures and roads. Thorns on the stems are straight or hooked and aid in [...]
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Pueraria lobata
Kudzu
Kudzu is a coarse, high-climbing, twining, trailing, perennial vine. It has hairy, dark brown stems up to 15 metres long. It forms large root tubers up to two metres long and 18 cm to 45 cm wide that can weigh as much as 180 kg on old plants and can reach a depth of one metre to five metres. Leaves are alternate with three leaflets (hairy on both surfaces) 8 cm to 20 cm long and 5 cm to 19 cm wide, usually slightly lobed (unless in shade). Flowers are pea-like, pink to purple with yellow centres, highly fragrant and [...]
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Cestrum parqui
Green cestrum
Green cestrum is a native of South America. It was introduced into Australia to be used as an ornamental shrub for gardens. Since that time, green cestrum has spread rapidly from people’s gardens and has become naturalised throughout eastern New South Wales. Green cestrum’s most common source of spread is droppings from birds that have eaten the berries. Seed is also readily spread through watercourses and by flood events. In NSW green cestrum can be found growing in the Hunter Valley, the outer metropolitan areas of Sydney, the North Coast and the north-west, central west and south-west of the state. [...]
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Sporobolus pyramidalis
Giant rat’s tail grass
Giant rat’s tail grass is a tufted perennial to about 1.8 m tall. It occurs as a weed in pastures and bushland areas, particularly on poorer soils. It produces leaf blades that are tough and difficult for cattle to graze, leading to reduced feed intake and reduced animal production. The seed heads are generally a ‘rat’s tail’ like spike when young and may branch to an elongated pyramidal shape when mature. Giant rat’s tail grass is native to Africa. Its seed is orange-brown, tapered-cylindrical, about 1 mm long. Roots are fibrous. The grass has a dense branched panicle up to [...]
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