Have you noticed plants in your gardens escaping and spreading into other parts of your garden or neighbourhood?  You can help stop this spread by removing these invasive plants wherever you see them and planting better alternatives that benefit the garden’s diversity and reduce the possibility of weedy plants invading.

Check the health of plants before bringing them into your garden or you may spread diseases like Myrtle rust, which is now prevalent on the Fraser Coast. For further details about this rust, contact your local nursery, Council or DPI&F.

Brazilian Cherry (Eugenia uniflora)

Flowering now!

Environmental weed

Origin: South America

Dispersal: Spread by birds, small mammals and water.

Location: Found in older style gardens along foreshore and riverside areas. Often used as an ornamental garden plant.

Description: A medium shrub, with dense rounded habit. Grows 3-6m tall. Oval leaves, with pointed tips and red new growth. Succulent ribbed orange/red fruits. Forms dense stands outcompeting native plants.

Control: Control with registered herbicide like glyphosate. Cut and paste stumps within 20 seconds.

Glory lily (Gloriosa superba L.)

Environmental Weed Declared under Local Law No. 3 (2010) for Fraser Island ONLY.

Origin: Africa and Asia.

Dispersal: Spread in garden refuse and by birds.

Location: Found in bushland, coastal habitats and gardens. Tolerates nutrient-poor soils.

Description: Perennial herb with climbing stems with tendrils at the tips. The narrow shiny green leaves die off in winter, reshooting from long-lived underground tubers. Flowering occurs in October to May. The yellow, orange and red flowers have turned back petals that expose the stamens.

Control: Control by collecting and destroying seedpods, and digging out and bagging small patches ensuring tubers are removed completely. Chemical control in December and then February using glyphosate and water at 1:50(20mL/L) + Metsulfuron methyl at 1.5g/10L water (with surfactant).

Before using any herbicide, always read the label carefully and apply strictly in accordance with direction on the label.