Berberis/Barberry Local Priority Weed
Under the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015, all landholders have a “General Biosecurity Duty” to manage any “Biosecurity Risk” posed or likely to be posed by Priority Weeds. These weeds can impact on human health, the economy, the liveability of our City and the environment. Impacts can include allergies and other health issues, costs of control, loss of tourism value, degradati on of natural landscapes, parks and recreati on faciliti es, reducti on of useful agricultural land and loss of primary producti on, loss of biodiversity and water quality.
MANDATORY OUTCOME The plant should be fully and conti nuously suppressed and destroyed.
Scienti fi c names Berberis aristata, Berberis darwinii, and Berberis thunbergii. (Family: Berberidaceae) Descripti on Habit: An erect, spiny, deciduous shrub, ranging between 2 m to 3 m in height. A disti nguishing feature is the rich turmeric yellow colour of the stem under the bark. Leaves: Leaves are 5 cm long with spiny toothed edges. Flowers: Flowering late spring to early summer. Flower buds are white turning yellow during spring in drooping clusters. Fruit: Bright red berries containing seed which turn blue when mature.
Photo source: M. Louis Photo source: M. Rudge
Blue Mountains City Council - Bushland Operati ons Team |htt p://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/weeds| Phone: 4780 5000
Fact Sheet Fact WEEDS ARE EVERYBODY’S RESPONSIBILITY
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Dispersal Seed is spread by birds, foxes, water, vehicles and machinery. Impacts The plant invades bushland forming dense thickets that prevent nati ve species from growing. Current distributi on Upper Mountains.
Control • Seedlings can be hand pulled if all of the roots can be removed. • More established small plants will need to be cut and painted using herbicide. • Larger plants can be stem injected.
Note: Because the berries are bird spread, it is best to treat plants before they fruit.
Hand Removal Cut and Paint Stem Inject
Plant this instead In the upper mountains choose from plants that are spiky and/or provide bird habitat – Mountain Devil, Hakea, Bott lebrush For plants with berries plant Nati ve Mulberry or Blueberry Ash.
Control illustrati ons by Virginia Bear.
For more informati on on weed identi fi cati on, control methods, herbicide use and weed contractors see: Blue Mountains City Council - Bushland Operati ons Team | htt p://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/weeds | Phone: 4780 5000
Fact Sheet Fact BLUE MOUNTAINS - NO PLACE FOR WEEDS
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