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Pest plants (Weeds)

Pest plants 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. Land owners have a legal responsibility to manage these plants. The Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (the Act) sets out the legal framework for:

More information about South Australian weeds can be found at PIRSA - (PIRSA biosecurity weeds in South Australia) and at Declared plants of South Australia.

What is being done to manage pest plants?

The Northern and Yorke Landscape Board has a clearly defined approach to managing pests. This helps improve detection and response to new and existing pests based on their invasiveness, impact, potential distribution and feasibility of containing it.

How we can help you

Northern and Yorke Landscape Board staff are available to help you plan your approach to pest plant control. Staff can provide you with technical support, information resources and in some cases incentives to help you control pest plants. Contact us to find out more.

Our staff also ensure that declared plants are controlled as per the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board's responsibilities under the Act.

Correct use of 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 impact 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.

Priority weeds in the Northern and Yorke region

Each district in the Northern and Yorke region has a Weed Action Plan, which identifies the priority weeds and how we will manage them over a five-year period.

African boxthorn

Common name: African boxthorn

Scientific name: Lycium ferocissimum

Status: Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.

African feathergrass

Common name: African feathergrass

Scientific name: Cenchrus macrourus

Status: Declared

African lovegrass

Common name: African lovegrass

Scientific name: Eragrostis curvula

Status: Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale

African rue

Common name: African rue

Scientific name: Peganum harmala

Status: Declared

Aleppo pine

Common name: Aleppo pine

Scientific name: Pinus halepensis

Status: Pest plant

Alligator weed

Common name: Alligator weed

Scientific name: Alternanthera philoxeroides

Status: State Alert. Notify Landscape Board immediately if found.

Declared: must be destroyed, banned from sale.

Arum lily

Common name: Arum lily

Scientific name: Zantedeschia aethiopica

Status: Declared: must be controlled (doesn't apply to ones planted >100m from wetland/watercourse). Plant must not be sold.

Asparagus fern

Common name: Asparagus fern

Scientific name: Asparagus scandens

Status: Must be controlled, banned from sale.

Bathurst burr

Common name: Bathurst burr

Scientific name: Xanthium spinosum

Status: Declared

Pest plants (Weeds)

Common name: Blackberry

Scientific name: Rubus fruticosus sp. agg

Status: Weed of national significance

Bladder campion

Common name: Bladder campion

Scientific name: Silene vulgaris

Status: Declared

Bluebell creeper

Common name: Bluebell creeper

Scientific name: Billardiera heterophylla

Status: Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.

Bridal creeper

Common name: Bridal creeper

Scientific name: Asparagus asparagoides

Status: Weed of national significance

Pest plants (Weeds)

Common name: Broom

Scientific name: Genista monspessulana

Status: Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.

Pest plants (Weeds)

Common name: Broomrape

Scientific name: Orobanche spp

Status: State Alert. Notify Landscape Board immediately if found. Declared: must be destroyed, banned from sale.

Bulbil watsonia

Common name: Bulbil watsonia

Scientific name: Watsonia meriana var. bulbillifera

Status: Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.

Calomba daisy

Common name: Calomba daisy

Scientific name: Oncosiphon suffruticosum

Status: Declared

Pest plants (Weeds)

Common name: Caltrop

Scientific name: Tribulus terrestris

Status: Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale

Cape tulip

Common name: Cape tulip

Scientific name: Moraea flaccida and miniata

Status: Declared

Chilean needlegrass

Common name: Chilean needlegrass

Scientific name: Nassella neesiana

Status: Declared: notify Landscape Board immediately if found. Must be destroyed, banned from sale.

Pest plants (Weeds)

Common name: ChincherincheeScientific name: Ornithogalum thyrsoidesStatus: Alert weedRelated links:

Coolatai grass

Common name: Coolatai grass

Scientific name: Hyparrhenia hirta

Status: Must be controlled, banned from sale.

Creeping knapweed

Common name: Creeping knapweed

Scientific name: Rhaponticum repens

Status: Declared

Cutleaf mignonette

Common name: Cutleaf mignonette

Scientific name: Reseda lutea

Status: Declared

Dune onion weed

Common name: Dune onion weed

Scientific name: Trachyandra divaricata

Status: Priority emerging weed

English broom

Common name: English broom

Scientific name: Cytisus scoparius

Status: Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale

Fountain grass

Common name: Fountain grass

Scientific name: Cenchrus setaceus

Status:

Pest plants (Weeds)

Common name: Gazania

Scientific name: Gazania sp.

Status: Invasive coastal weed

Golden wreath wattle

Common name: Golden wreath wattle

Scientific name: Acacia saligna

Status: Declared

Pest plants (Weeds)

Common name: Gorse

Scientific name: Ulex europaeus

Status: Weed of national significance

Related links:

Pest plants (Weeds)

Common name: Hawthorn

Scientific name: Azzarola Crataegus sinaica and May Crataegus

Status: Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale

Hoary cress

Common name: Hoary cress

Scientific name: Cardaria draba

Status: Declared

Pest plants (Weeds)

Common name: Horehound

Scientific name: Marrubium vulgare

Status: Declared

Pest plants (Weeds)

Common name: Horsetail

Scientific name: Equisetum spp.

Status: State Alert. Notify Landscape Board immediately if found. Declared: must be destroyed, banned from sale

Hudson pear (white-spined)

Common name: Hudson pear (white-spined)

Scientific name: Cylindropuntia pallida (syn. C. rosea)

Status: Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.

Innocent weed

Common name: Innocent weed

Scientific name: Cenchrus incertus and longispinus

Status: Declared

Italian buckthorn

Common name: Italian buckthorn

Scientific name: Rhamnus alaternus

Status: Pest plant

Khaki weed

Common name: Khaki weed

Scientific name: Alternanthera pungens

Status: Declared

Lincoln weed

Common name: Lincoln weed

Scientific name: Diplotaxis tenuifolia

Status: Declared

Mexican feathergrass

Common name: Mexican feathergrass

Scientific name: Nassella tenuissima

Status: Declared

Pampas grasses

Common name: Pampas grasses

Scientific name: Cortaderia spp.

Status: Declared: notify Landscape Board immediately if found. Must be controlled, banned from sale.

Pest plants (Weeds)

Common name: Polygala

Scientific name: Polygala myrtifolia var. myrtifolia

Status: Declared

Prickly pear and Wheel cactus

Common name: Prickly pear and Wheel cactus

Scientific name: Opuntia sp.

Status: Weed of national significance

Pest plants (Weeds)

Common name: Sagittaria

Scientific name: Sagittaria platyphylla

Status: Regional Alert. Notify Landscape Board immediately if found. Declared: must be destroyed, banned from sale.

Salvation jane

Common name: Salvation jane

Scientific name: Echium plantagineumStatus: Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale.

Pest plants (Weeds)

Common name: Salvinia

Scientific name: Salvinia molesta

Status: State Alert. Notify Landscape Board immediately if found. Declared: must be destroyed, banned from sale.

Serrated tussock

Common name: Serrated tussock

Scientific name: Nassella trichotoma

Status: Declared: notify Landscape Board immediately if found, must be destroyed, banned from sale.

Silverleaf Nightshade Webinar

Skeleton weed

Common name: Skeleton weed

Scientific name: Chondrilla juncea

Status: Declared

Spanish heath

Common name: Spanish heath

Scientific name: Erica lusitanica

Status: Priority emerging weed

Spiny rush

Common name: Spiny rush

Scientific name: Juncus acutus

Status: Declared: must be controlled, banned from sale

Tall wheatgrass

Common name: Tall wheatgrass

Scientific name: Thinopyrum ponticum)

Status: Pest plant

Texas needlegrass

Common name: Texas needlegrass

Scientific name: Nassella leucotricha

Status: Declared: notify Landscape Board immediately if found, must be destroyed, banned from sale

Water hyacinth

Common name: Water hyacinth

Scientific name: Eichhornia crassipes

Status: State Alert. Notify Landscape Board immediately if found. Declared: must be destroyed, banned from sale.

White weeping broom

Common name: White weeping broom

Scientific name: Ratama raetam

Status: Declared Plant

Wild artichoke

Common name: Wild artichoke

Scientific name: Cynara cardunculus

Status: Declared

Wild rose, Dog rose, and Sweet briar rose

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

Yellow burrweed

Common name: Yellow burrweed

Scientific name: Amsinckia intermedia

Status: Priority pest plant