areas and negatively impacting upon biodiversity values. biodiversity upon impacting negatively and areas increases the risk of these plants ‘escaping’ to bushland bushland to ‘escaping’ plants these of risk the increases Planting unsuitable native or exotic species in your garden garden your in species exotic or native unsuitable Planting nutrients. Compete with native species for space, water and and water space, for species native with Compete • Impact negatively on fauna and flora and their habitats. their and flora and fauna on negatively Impact • Create fuel loads for fires. for loads fuel Create • Harbour pests and diseases. and pests Harbour • Displace native plant species. plant native Displace • lemon-yellow, in small sprays. small in lemon-yellow, Weeds can: Weeds curved tip. Flower heads are round, round, are heads Flower tip. curved Impacts on Bushland on Impacts phyllodes to 14cms with a slightly slightly a with 14cms to phyllodes summer. to winter from flowers green-grey narrow leaf-like leaf-like narrow green-grey purple or green Displays high. 30cm Dense shrub to 4 metres. Displays Displays metres. 4 to shrub Dense to up grass perennial growing Flat By garden rubbish dumping. rubbish garden By • Acacia iteaphylla Acacia dactylon Cynodon Through underground root systems. root underground Through • Flinders Range Wattle Range Flinders Couch or vehicle movement. vehicle or human or animals birds, wind, by seeds of Dispersal • grow in clusters. clusters. in grow Weeds are often spread by a number of methods: of number a by spread often are Weeds yellow ball-shaped flowers that that flowers ball-shaped yellow Weed Dispersal Weed leaf-like phyllodes to 3cm. Golden Golden 3cm. to phyllodes leaf-like flowers from spring to autumn. autumn. to spring from flowers metres. Silvery green-grey oval oval green-grey Silvery metres. 50cm high. Displays green or purple purple or green Displays high. 50cm Bushy tall shrub or small tree to 5 5 to tree small or shrub tall Bushy and often harsh conditions. harsh often and to up grass perennial growing Flat varied in thrive cases some in and survive to ability The • Acacia podalyriifolia Acacia Stenotaphrum secundatum Stenotaphrum Queensland Silver Wattle Silver Queensland dispersed by wind. by dispersed Buffalo Grass Buffalo Produce large amounts of seeds which can be be can which seeds of amounts large Produce • commonly on roadsides and bushland. and roadsides on commonly by birds (e.g. olives). (e.g. birds by individually or in pairs. Grows Grows pairs. in or individually Produce seeds in fruit that can be eaten or dispersed dispersed or eaten be can that fruit in seeds Produce • cylindrical, yellow flower spikes grow grow spikes flower yellow cylindrical, multiple longitudinal veins. The The veins. longitudinal multiple (e.g. bulbs, roots or stem fragments). stem or roots bulbs, (e.g. to autumn. Prefers moist habitats. moist Prefers autumn. to Bright-green leaf-like phyllodes with with phyllodes leaf-like Bright-green means vegetative by spread to ability The • Displays green flowers from spring spring from flowers green Displays to 10 metres with dark grey bark. bark. grey dark with metres 10 to Perennial grass up to 15cm high. high. 15cm to up grass Perennial tree small or shrub bushy Dense, Characteristics of a Weed a of Characteristics Cenchrus clandestinus Cenchrus Acacia longifolia Acacia Kikuyu Grass Kikuyu local bushland. bushland. local Sydney Golden Wattle Golden Sydney have the potential to become environmental weeds in in weeds environmental become to potential the have Many ornamental plants growing in backyard gardens gardens backyard in growing plants ornamental Many with native flora. native with Weeds invade or take over ecosystems and compete compete and ecosystems over take or invade Weeds bushlands and wetlands. and bushlands values. (National Weeds Strategy, 1997) Strategy, Weeds (National values. of small yellow or orange flowers. orange or yellow small of invade readily Grasses composted. or collections waste a detrimental effect on economic, social or conservation conservation or social economic, on effect detrimental a abundance an have usually wattles States Eastern green in of disposed be should clippings Grass refuse. A weed is a plant which has, or has the potential to have, have, to potential the has or has, which plant a is weed A species following a disturbance event such as fire. fire. as such event disturbance a following species garden with dumped if root will fragments small even and growing colonising plants which outcompete native native outcompete which plants colonising growing runners and seed by rapidly spread Can grass. lawn a as growing outside their natural range. range. natural their outside growing are fast fast are Acacia Genus the from shrubs and trees The planted widely are family Poaceae the of members These Weeds may be either introduced plants, or native plants plants native or plants, introduced either be may Weeds Eastern States Wattles States Eastern Turf What is a Weed? a is What Garden Rubbish Dumping Purchasing and Growing Native Plants For a list of alternative plants to grow in your garden Dumping of garden waste is one of the main ways that see the City of Joondalup publication: weeds escape from gardens and inhabit bushland and waterways. Always dispose of green waste through your • ‘Growing Locals’ - In Quindalup, Cottesloe, and Green Waste Bin, green waste collections or at the City’s Karrakatta Soils. Green Waste Recycling Facility in Wangara. This publication lists plants that suit your soil and climatic Disposal of green waste in your General Waste Bin is conditions and don’t pose any adverse effects discouraged. For more information on green waste to local bushland. disposals contact the City on 9400 4000. Native plants can be purchased from many specialist nurseries. For a list of native nurseries in your area Tips for Managing the Spread of Weeds visit the Australian Native Plants Society website • Identify plants in your garden that have the potential or enquire at your local nursery. Being to become bushland weeds. Manage weeds to prevent Additional Resources escaping (e.g. cut off flowers to stop seeds spreading) or remove them completely. • Hussey, B, Keighery, G and Dodd, J (2007) Western Weeds. WEEDwise • Ensure you dispose of all garden waste correctly (Green Waste Bin, City green waste collections, • Brown, K and Sandiford, L (2002) Bushland mulching etc). Weeds: A Practical Guide To Their Management. Garden Escapees • Maintain your property so weeds do not re-establish (apply dense mulch, replant weeded areas with Online suitable plants). • Department of Primary Industries and Regional • For future planting, consider using local, native species Development where possible. agric.wa.gov.au • Consider joining a Friends Group to participate in • Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and bushland restoration and enhance your knowledge Attractions of native plant species. dpaw.wa.gov.au Many weed species have invaded the City’s natural areas, • Florabase through escaping backyard gardens or through dumped florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au garden waste. Weed species impact upon local For further information on weeds in your local area visit biodiversity. Weed identification can assist in prevention the City’s website at joondalup.wa.gov.au. and ongoing management of weed species. This Guide provides an overview of common and threatening weed species regularly planted in the City of Joondalup. Key for Weed Species T: 08 9400 4000 Declared – Legislation under the Biosecurity and F: 9300 1383 Agricultural Management Act 2007 that requires E: [email protected] landholders to control or eradicate the weed when it Boas Avenue Joondalup WA 6027 grows on their land. PO Box 21 Joondalup WA 6919 WONS – Under Australian Weeds Strategy 2017 - 2027 joondalup.wa.gov.au identified as a Weed of National Significance because of its invasiveness, potential for spread, and economic Thank you to City of Joondalup Friends Groups, Department of Biodiversity, and environmental impacts. Conservation and Attractions and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development for their contribution to this Guide. Plant species information supplied by Flora Base (Weeds of WA) and Western Weeds. Sydney Golden Wattle Last updated March 2021 Printed on 100% recycled paper. Bulbous Plants Ornamental Grasses Succulents This group of plants have an underground storage organ, Annual or perennial tufted plants, usually grown for lawns Succulents are plants that have the ability to store water e.g. bulb, corm or tuber, which are the primary means of and their foliage. Recently, have become popular landscaping in their leaves or stems, enabling them to tolerate long survival in difficult climatic conditions and for some, a means plants. Many produce large amounts of windblown seed. periods of dry weather. Many succulents can grow of reproduction. Management of these plants is difficult and Can germinate prolifically after fire or disturbance and usually from discarded leaves or stems, some even producing labour intensive due to the need for manual weed removal. dry off over summer, leaving a highly flammable fuel load. plantlets on each leaf which can drop and rapidly Lawn clippings often carry grass seed as well as high nutrient establish into new plants. Plants such as Agave (Century levels and should be disposed of in green waste collections Plant) can produce secondary shoots from their base or composted for use in your own garden. or roots making them extremely difficult to remove. Freesia Fountain Grass Agave/Century Plant Freesia alba x leichtlinii Cenchrus setaceus Agave americana Perennial bulb up to 40cm high. Densely tufted, perennial to 1 metre Robust, perennial with giant rosettes Displays cream, white, yellow or tall. Displays moderately dense, erect of stiff, spine tipped leaves, with many purple flowers from winter to spring. and spike-like flowers with cylindrical teeth (to 1cm long) along their Found commonly amongst grasses purple flower heads from spring margins.