Weeds

'Pest plants' are weeds that must be managed because they can have significant impacts on industries and the environment

Declared pest plants

Pest plants that are a significant threat to agriculture, the natural environment and public health and safety are called declared plants and land owners have a legal responsibility to manage these plants. The Landscape South Australia Act 2019 sets out the legal framework for:

banning the sale of declared weeds
controlling the movement of declared weeds
destroying or controlling infestations of declared weeds
notifying authorities when an infestation is detected.

All declared (and undeclared) plant policies and a list of declared plants are available on the Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) website.

The PIRSA website also lists alternative common and scientific names for all plants prohibited from sale in South Australia, and Managing declared weeds on roadsides.

Managing declared weeds on roadsides.

Alert weeds, established and emerging weeds in this region are profiled below.

What is being done to manage pests?

The Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board has a clearly defined approach to managing pests. The pest management hierarchy recommends management actions for target pest plants and animals. This helps improve detection and response to new and existing pests based on their invasiveness, impact and potential distribution and the feasibility of containing it. Our Landscape officers provide leadership for pest management issues in the region.

Regional Pest Strategy

The Hills and Fleurieu Regional Pest Plant and Animal Strategy provides high level guidance to all land managers and points to which species Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu intends to focus on and why.

This simple factsheet highlights which pest species you should report if you see them in the region.

How we can help you

Landscape board staff are available to help you plan your approach to pest plant control. They can provide technical support, information resources and in some cases incentives to help you control pest plants. New species can be identified as we have access to a weed taxonomist at the state herbarium. Contact us to find out more.

Staff also ensure that declared plants are controlled as per the board’s responsibilities under the Act.

Using chemicals for weed control

We can provide advice on the use of chemicals to control pest plants. It is important that chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides are used correctly. Incorrect use can affect human health and the health of the environment. Many people apply up to five times more chemical than is needed to kill the plants being targeted. This is a huge waste of time and money and can be counterproductive as it can kill the foliage of the plant before reaching the roots and so allow the weed to regrow. Excess chemicals can also run off, impacting soils, native plants and animals, and stormwater and waterways.

The following resources can help you to use chemicals safely and responsibly:

Weed profiles

Common name: African boxthorn
Scientific name: Lycium ferocissimum
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

African boxthorn fact sheet

Common name: African feathergrass
Scientific name: Pennisetum macrourum
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

African feathergrass factsheet

Common name: African lovegrass
Scientific name: Eragrostis curvula
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Common name: Aleppo pine
Scientific name: Pinus halepensis
Status:
Declared: must be controlled (unless planted and maintained for amenity or commercial purposes), banned from sale.
Related links:

Aleppo pine factsheet

Common name: Alligator weed
Scientific name: Alternanthera philoxeroides
Status: State Alert. Notify Landscape Board immediately if found.
Declared: must be destroyed, banned from sale.
Related links:

Alligator weed fact sheet

Common name: Arum lily
Scientific name: Zantedeschia aethiopica
Status:
Declared: must be controlled (doesn't apply to ones planted >100m from wetland/watercourse). Plant mustn't be sold.
Related links:

Common name: Asparagus fern
Scientific name: Asparagus scandens
Status: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Asparagus fern factsheet

Common name: Bathurst burr
Scientific name: Xanthium spinosum
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Bathurst burr factsheet

Common name: Berry heath
Scientific name: Erica baccans
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Berry heath factsheet

Common name: Blackberry
Scientific name: Rubus fruticosus
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Common name: Bluebell creeper
Scientific name: Billardiera heterophylla
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Bluebell creeper fact sheet

Common name: Boneseed
Scientific name: Chrysanthemoides monilifera
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Common name: Bridal creeper
Scientific name: Asparagus asparagoides
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Common name: Bridal veil
Scientific name: Asparagus declinatus
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Bridal veil fact sheet

Common name: Broomrape
Scientific name: Orobanche spp
Status: State Alert. Notify Landscape Board immediately if found.
Declared: must be destroyed, banned from sale.
Related links:

Broomrape fact sheet

Common name: Buffel grass
Scientific name: Cenchrus ciliaris
Status:
Declared: must be destroyed, banned from sale.
Related links:

Buffel grass guide - PIRSA website

Common name: Bulbil watsonia
Scientific name: Watsonia meriana var. bulbillifera
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Bulbil watsonia fact sheet

Common name: Calomba daisy
Scientific name: Oncosiphon suffruticosum
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Calomba daisy factsheet

Common name: Caltrop
Scientific name: Tribulus terrestris
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Common name: Cape broom
Scientific name: Genista monspessulana
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Common name: Cape tulip
Scientific name: Moraea flaccid and Moraea miniata
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Common name: Chilean needlegrass
Scientific name: Nassella neesiana
Status:
Declared: notify Landscape Board immediately if found. Must be destroyed, banned from sale.
Related links:

Chilean needlegrass fact sheet

Common name: Chincherinchee
Scientific name: Ornithogalum thyrsoides
Status: Alert weed
Related links:

Chincherinchee weed fact sheet

Common name: Coolatai grass
Scientific name: Hyparrhenia hirta
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Coolatai grass fact sheet

Common name: Dune onion weed
Scientific name: Trachyandra divaricata
Status: Priority emerging weed.
Related links:

Dune onion weed fact sheet

Common name: English broom
Scientific name: Cytisus scoparius
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Common name: Gazania spp
Scientific name: Gazinia linearis
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Common name: Gorse
Scientific name: Ulex europaeus
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Common name: Hawthorn
Scientific name: Azzarola Crataegus sinaica and May Crataegus
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Hawthorn weed fact sheet

Common name: Horsetail
Scientific name: Equisetum spp.
Status: State Alert. Notify Landscape Board immediately if found.
Declared: must be destroyed, banned from sale.
Related links:

Weed management guide

Common name: Hudson pear (white-spined)
Scientific name: Cylindropuntia pallida (syn. C. rosea)
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Hudson pear weed identification note

Common name: Innocent weed
Scientific name: Cenchrus incertus
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Innocent weed identification note

Common name: Invasive cacti
Scientific name: Opuntia spp.
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Common name: Khaki weed
Scientific name: Alternanthera pungens
Status:
Declared: must be controlled
Related links:

Khaki weed identification note

Common name: Mexican feathergrass
Scientific name: Nassella tenuissima
Status: State Alert. Notify Landscape Board immediately if found.
Declared: must be destroyed, banned from sale.
Related links:

Mexican feathergrass fact sheet

Common name: Muraltia heisteria
Scientific name: Furze muraltia
Status: Priority emerging weed.
Related links:

Muraltia heisteria fact sheet

Common name: Olive (feral or wild)
Scientific name: Olea europaeaStatus:
Declared: must be controlled (unless planted and maintained for use).
Related links:

Common name: Pampas grasses
Scientific name: Cortaderia spp.Status:
Declared: notify Landscape Board immediately if found. Must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Pampas grasses fact sheet

Common name: Sagittaria
Scientific name: Sagittaria platyphylla
Status: Regional Alert. Notify Landscape Board immediately if found.
Declared: must be destroyed, banned from sale.
Related links:

Common name: Salvation Jane
Scientific name: Echium plantagineum
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Common name: Salvinia
Scientific name: Salvinia molesta
Status: State Alert. Notify Landscape Board immediately if found.
Declared: must be destroyed, banned from sale.
Related links:

Salvinia fact sheet

Common name: Serrated tussock
Scientific name: Nassella trichotoma
Status:
Declared: notify Landscape Board immediately if found, must be destroyed, banned from sale.
Related links:

Serrated tussock weed identification note

Common name: Silverleaf nightshade
Scientific name: Solanum elaeagnifolium
Status:
Declared: must be controlled.
Related links:

Common name: Spanish heath
Scientific name: Erica lusitanica
Status: Priority emerging weed.
Related links:

Spanish heath fact sheet

Common name: Spiny rush
Scientific name: Juncus acutus
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Spiny rush factsheet

Common name: Texas needlegrass
Scientific name: Nassella leucotricha
Status:
Declared: notify Landscape Board immediately if found, must be destroyed, banned from sale.
Related links:

Texas needlegrass factsheet

Common name: Tree heath
Scientific name: Erica arborea
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Tree heath factsheet

Common name: Water hyacinth
Scientific name: Eichhornia crassipes
Status: State Alert. Notify Landscape Board immediately if found.
Declared: must be destroyed, banned from sale.
Related links:

Water hyacinth weed identification note

Common name: Wild artichoke
Scientific name: Cynara cardunculus
Status:
Declared: must be controlled.
Related links:

Wild artichoke factsheet

Common name: Wild rose, Dog rose, and Sweet briar rose
Scientific name: Rosa canina and R. rubiginosa
Status:
Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.
Related links:

Wild rose weed identification note

Image gallery

African Boxthorn is one of the priority weeds in the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges region.