Invasive Weeds
The ones you need to know
Weeds are a huge problem on our island. Uncontrolled infestations are smothering our native plants. Some are already extinct, or close to it.
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You can help turn the tide against our worst weeds, by contacting our community-minded volunteers at Bushcare and Coastcare.
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And if you spot any of the following weeds on your property, you need to get rid of them. There are links to expert advice next to each photo, or contact the Native Nursery, Bushcare or Coastcare.
Asparagus Fern
Asparagus aethiopicus ‘Sprengeri’ one of 32 WoNS- weeds of national significance. It's found all over the island often completely overwhelming native plants on the Emerald Fringe. It has long, bright green, prickly, stems, and small pinkish white flowers that are followed by green berries which turn bright red. Brought from Africa as an ornamental. It spreads by seed, its entangled root system, and garden waste dumped in bushland.
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Fishbone Fern
Nephrolepis cordifolia an Australian plant classed as a weed outside its native range. Resembles a fishbone, with bright green leaflets either side of a long stem, up to 75 cm. It spreads via rhizomes and distinctive round, brown, underground tubers as well as by spores transported by wind or machinery, or through dumped garden waste. It can can completely take over in damp, shady areas, crowding out indigenous species.
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Glycine
Neonotonia wightii is a creeper that smothers native species. Its twining stems end in three leaflets between 5 & 10 cm long. It has small whitish pea flowers that grow along a stem in late autumn or early winter.
These flowers are followed by pods containing its seeds. It's a native of tropical Africa and Asia and ranked among the twenty most invasive weeds in South East Queensland.
Leucaena
Leucaena leucocephala - one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species. It grows to about 10 metres, with long canes and ferny green leaves. The fluffy, cream flowers are followed by pods that contain seeds dispersed by animals, wind or water. It shoots readily into thickets or coppices, which grow across the island, mostly on the western Emerald Fringe and around the Community Hall. Native to Central and South America, Leucaena is extremely difficult to eradicate once established.
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Mother-of-Millions
Bryophyllum deleagoense - a prolific environmental weed of the Emerald Fringe. Originally from Madagascar, this succulent grows up to a metre, with purple-brown leaves and apricot bell- shaped flowers. It can reproduce from seeds, leaf or stem pieces and tiny plantlets along the edge of the leaves. It likes sandy, disturbed soils and can survive extreme drought. If left, its dense mat-like growth crowds out indigenous plants. More ...
Ochna or Mickey Mouse Plant Ochna serrulata like most of our weeds, started out in someone’s garden. A shrub, or small tree from South Africa, it's now flourishing in the western Emerald Fringe having overwhelmed most of the native species. Its flowers are yellow, followed by green sepals and fruit that turn bright red and black as they ripen. Ochna is classified as a significant environmental weed in Queensland. More ...
Painted spurge
Euphorbia cyathophora grows up to a metre high and the stems and leaves exude a toxic milky sap. The flowers are small, yellow-green and inconspicuous: the red ‘petals’ are really leaves. It is native to tropical America and likes disturbed sites. It can be found in many of the sandy areas of the Emerald Fringe. Easy to weed, but multiplies quickly as seed capsules explode when mature and disperse new plants over a wide area. More ...
Purple succulent
Callisia fragrans. From Mexico, yet another Emerald Fringe weed and garden escapee. It's identified by rosettes of green (in shade) to purple (in sunnier spots) and pointed leaves. Small white, fragrant flowers grow on a long spike. It spreads via fleshy runners that put down roots. These smother native plants which can't regenerate through the thick weed cover.
Singapore Daisy
Sphagneticola trilobatacan another of our 'world's 100 worst weeds' found all over the Island. It has glossy paired leaves with toothed edges, and daisy yellow flowers Spring to Autumn. Actually from tropical America it is spread largely by slashing and mowing and is extremely vigorous, rapidly out-competing native species. Singapore Daisy is a category 3 restricted invasive plant in Queensland. It must not be given away, sold or released into the environment.
Velcro vine/Silverleaf Desmodium
Desmodium uncinatum.
If you find string of brown sticky seeds stuck to your socks or clothing, this is the likely culprit. The ‘velcro’ seeds can also trap insects, small frogs, lizards and microbats, which then starve to death. It's easy to spot with a silvery stripe up the middle of its pointed leaflets. Pink to purple pea shaped flowers appear in clusters from Summer to Autumn. It's one of south east Queensland's 100 most invasive species.
