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Pest plants

Pest plants (weeds) have a significant impact on agricultural production, costing Australia over $4 billion a year and over $19 million per year in the Limestone Coast. Pest plants also have a significant impact on the environment as they compete with native vegetation, much of which is food or homes for native animals.

The Limestone Coast Landscape Board aims to prevent the invasion of new weeds that threaten the region and to mitigate or eradicate many weeds currently present.

A pest plant and animal strategy for the region has been developed.

There are four categories of weeds:

  1. Declared - the weed is a significant threat to agriculture, the natural environment and public health and safety.
  2. Priority - the weed poses a serious threat and is identified as being a priority within the region.
  3. Alert - the weed poses a serious threat but is not present in the region yet and has the potential to establish itself.
  4. Weeds of national significance (WONS) – weeds effecting on a national scale.

Controlling pest plants

If you need assistance with pest plant control, please contact the Landscape Officers in your area or call 08 8429 7550.

Report a weed

If you have found a declared weed or a new weed you are unsure of, please contact your nearest Landscape Officer.

Resources

Priority weeds in the Limestone Coast

Priority weeds and their management actions are identified in the Limestone Coast Pest Plant and Animal Strategy.

African lovegrass

Common name: African lovegrass Scientific name: Eragrostis curvula

Status: Declared.

Limestone Coast management action (2009): contain spread

Related links:

Aleppo pine

Common name: Aleppo pine

Scientific name: Pinus halepensis

Status: Declared.

South East management action: contain spread.

Related links:

Asparagus fern

Common name: Asparagus fern

Scientific name: Asparagus aethiopicus

Status: Non-declared species.

South East management action: destroy infestations.

Related links:

Bathurst burr

Common name: Bathurst burr

Scientific name: Xanthium spinosum

Status: Declared.

South East management action: contain spread.

Related links:

Pest plants

Common name: Blackberry

Scientific name: Rubus fruticosus

Status: Declared; must be controlled.

South East management action: destroy infestations.

Related links:

Pest plants

Common name: Boneseed

Scientific name: Chrysanthemoides monilifera

Status: Declared.

South East management action: contain spread.

Related links:

Pest plants

Common name: Caltrop

Scientific name: Tribulus terrestris

Status: Declared.

South East management action: contain spread.

Related links:

Cape tulip

Common name: Cape tulip

Scientific name: Moraea flaccida

Status: Declared.

South East management action: contain spread.

Related links:

Creeping knapweed

Common name: Creeping knapweed

Scientific name: Acroptilon repens

Status: Declared.

South East management action: contain spread.

Related links:

Pest plants

Common name: Gorse

Scientific name: Ulex europaeus

Status: Declared.

South East management action: contain spread.

Related links:

Hoary cress

Common name: Hoary cress

Scientific name: Lepidium draba

Status: Declared.

South East management action: contain spread.

Related links:

Pest plants

Common name: African boxthorn

Scientific name: Lycium ferocissimum

Status: Declared

Related Links: African boxthorn Factsheet

Innocent weed

Common name: Innocent weed

Scientific name: Cenchrus incertus

Status: Declared: must be controlled.

South East management action: destroy infestations.

Related links:

Mexican feathergrass

Common name: Mexican feathergrass

Scientific name: Nassella tenuissima

Status: Declared species.

South East management action: contain spread.

Related links:

Noogoora burr

Common name: Noogoora burr

Scientific name: Xanthium strumarium

Status: Declared.

South East management action: contain spread.

Related links:

Pampas grass

Common name: Pampas grass

Scientific name: Cortaderia species

Status: Declared: must be controlled.

South East management action: destroy infestations.

Related links:

Salvation Jane

Common name: Salvation Jane

Scientific name: Echium plantagineum

Status: Declared. South East management action: contain spread.

Related links:

Silverleaf nightshade

Common name: Silverleaf nightshade

Scientific name: Solanum elaeagnifolium

Status: Declared: must be controlled.

South East management action: destroy infestations.

Related links:

Three corner jack

Common name: Three corner jack

Scientific name: Emex australis

Status: Declared.

South East management action: contain spread.

Related links:

Variegated thistle

Common name: Variegated thistle

Scientific name: Silybum marianum

Status: Declared.

South East management action: contain spread.

Related links:

Pest plants

Common name: Olive (feral and excluding cultivated trees)

Scientific name: Olea europaea

Status: Declared

Related links: Olive (feral) Factsheet

Western Cape bridal creeper

Common name: Western Cape bridal creeper

Scientific name: Asparagus asparagoides Western Cape form

Status: Declared: must be controlled.

South East management action: destroy infestations.

Related links:

Yellow burweed

Common name: Yellow burweed

Scientific name: Amsinckia calycina

Status: Declared.

South East management action: contain spread.

Related links:

Alert weeds in the Limestone Coast

Over 30 species of alert weeds have been identified for the region. These weeds are species not yet present in the Limestone Coast or present in very limited numbers, but that have the potential for large negative impacts if they were to become established in the region.

Alligator weed

Common name: Alligator weed

Scientific name: Alternanthera philoxeroides

Status: Alert weed

Related links:

Asparagus fern

Common name: Asparagus fern

Scientific name: Asparagus scandens

Status: Alert weed

Related links:

Bridal veil

Common name: Bridal veil

Scientific name: Asparagus declinatus

Status: Alert weed

Related links:

Pest plants

Common name: Broomrape

Scientific name: Orobranche ramosa

Status: Alert weed

Related links:

Calomba daisy

Common name: Calomba daisy

Scientific name: Oncosiphon suffruticosum

Status: Alert weed

Related links:

Chilean needlegrass

Common name: Chilean needlegrass

Scientific name: Nassella neesiana

Status: Alert weed

Related links:

Coolatai grass

Common name: Coolatai grass Scientific name: Hyparrhenia hirta

Status: Alert weed

Related links:

Golden dodder

Common name: Golden dodder Scientific name: Cuscuta campestris

Status: Alert weed

Related links:

Water hyacinth

Common name: Water hyacinth

Scientific name: Eichhornia crassipes

Status: Alert weed

Related links:

Pest plants

Common name: Horsetail Scientific name: Equisetum hyemale

Status: Alert weed

Related links:

Primrose willow

Common name: Primrose willow Scientific name: Ludwigia peruviana

Status: Alert weed

Related links:

Pest plants

Common name: Salvinia

Scientific name: Salvinia molesta

Status: Alert weed

Related links:

Serrated tussock

Common name: Serrated tussock Scientific name: Nassella trichotoma

Status: Alert weed

Related links:

Texas needlegrass

Common name: Texas needlegrass

Scientific name: Nassella leucotricha

Status: Alert weed

Related links:

White weeping broom

Common name: White weeping broom

Scientific name: Retama raetam

Status: Alert weed

Related links: