Weeds to eradicate

Instead of focusing on a particular weed this month, I am again going to discuss a few significant weeds: these are ones identified by Sunshine Coast Council as high priority and need to be eradicated (or at least contained). None of them are known to occur at Crystal Waters currently, but have been found here in the past. Please familiarise yourselves with them so that you’ll know them if you see them. Any occurrences should be reported to Sunshine Coast Council, as well as to the Body Corporate, so that they can be dealt with promptly. The species in this category are: fireweed, parthenium, honey locust and cat’s claw.

Fireweed

Fireweed used to be a problem weed at Crystal Waters, but has been eradicated. However, occasional plants still turn up, and have the potential to spread rapidly, so we need to keep an eye out for them. The seeds can be carried in by wind or on machinery/vehicles/animals. It is an annual or short-lived perennial which is very similar to a number of other species, some of which are native, so it’s important to identify it correctly before removing it. There’s very detailed information on distinguishing it from other similar species here (click on the tab “Similar Species”). The factsheet on this species can be found here.

Parthenium

Parthenium has been found at Crystal Waters on occasion, but I don’t know of any currently. It’s an annual plant very similar to annual ragweed, though, so it would be easy to confuse them – until they flower, when they are quite different! The factsheet on this species can be found here.

Honey locust

Honey locust is a tree that was once planted as an ornamental and for fodder. It has very nasty spines which can pierce tractor tyres and cause injuries to animals and humans. It is now recognised as a serious weed and it is illegal to sell them – including grafted ornamental varieties – these may not be thorny, but they can produce wild type seeds and suckers. The one that I know of at Crystal Waters, at Upper Lot 1, has been eradicated. However, I find the occasional seedling still. The fact sheet on this species can be found here.

Cat’s claw creeper

Cat’s claw creeper is a very serious weedy vine of riparian forests which we are extremely fortunate not to have at Crystal Waters! It is very widespread in many downstream areas of the Mary River. Sunshine Coast Council has not classified it as a weed for eradication – probably because this is considered impossible in many places. They have classified it at the next level – for containment. However, we’ve only had one occurrence that I know of (Rhea spotted it) and we dealt with it immediately. It’s definitely worth keeping vigilant for it! The fact sheet for this species can be found here.