Australian Native Weeds

Weed Talk: By Martin Chatfield Landcare Community Weed Officer. Australian Native Weeds. Sweet pittosporum (Pittosporum undulatum) is one of an increasing number of native species acting as an environmental weed in habitats outside its natural ecological range. Prior to European settlement the distribution of Sweet Pittosporum was believed to encompass a range of habitats including wet and dry forests environments, riparian and coastal areas along the eastern seaboard of south-east Australia The seeds are mostly spread by birds, brush tail possums foxes and black rats. You will often see bird poo haloes around the base of other trees and as Sweet pittosporum is happy to grow in the shade they can then dominate the area causing other native species to die back (allelopathic effect) and becoming a mono culture. Control measures for this plant need to be implemented otherwise a serious decline in indigenous species will result on invaded areas. Some methods are manually pull out small seedlings, cut and paint, drill and fill, or basal bark spraying with appropriate herbicides. Cape wattle (Paraserianthes lophantha) is a West Australian native which spreads along roadways and bushland. This is a rapid growing evergreen tree producing thousands of long lived seeds with buried seeds viable for many years. It is often mistaken for local native silver and black wattles. Cut and paint method is the easiest way to control this pest. . . . Anyone who would like further information or would like me to visit your property to talk weeds and their control can ring me on 56 821934 or mobile 0428317928.