Yellow Bells

Tecoma stans

Yellow Bells is not listed as a priority invasive plant for the Sunshine Coast Region, however in our own Weed Management Strategy we have identified it as one which we aim to limit the spread of and work towards eradication. Under the Biosecurity Act 2014 it is listed as a Category 3 restricted invasive plant. It must not be given away, sold, or released into the environment without a permit. The Act requires everyone to take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risks associated with invasive plants under their control. This is called a general biosecurity obligation (GBO). Further information on Yellow Bells can be found here: Yellow Bells.

Information and Identification

Yellow Bells is originally from tropical America. It is a shrub which readily colonises roadsides and native bushland. It is extremely fast-growing and produces large amounts of seed which is wind-dispersed. It also spreads by suckering and can form dense stands.

Identification:

• Shrub 3–8m tall.
• Bark is pale brown to grey, roughens with age.
• Leaves are compound with 2–5 paired leaflets along the stem. Each leaflet is up to 10cm long with serrated edges.
• Flowers are bright yellow, 3–5cm long, in clusters at the ends of branches.
• Fruit appears as long, bean-like pods, 10–30cm. Pods are green, ripening to brown, and appear in clusters at ends of branches.
• Seeds are winged, flat, oblong, 7–8mm long, 4mm wide.

Impacts

Environmental

Readily invades bushland and roadsides.

Distribution at Crystal Waters

Yellow Bells occurs mainly along the steep slope above the Mary River below Lots 59 and 67 and below the Cemetery. There are also scattered plants in other locations around the property (I don’t think I have comprehensively mapped all of those).

Control methods and efforts

Small plants (and even relatively large ones) can be pulled out by hand. We have been trialling cutting and dabbing with Glyphosate for larger plants. This seems to take about 2-3 treatments to completely kill the plants – usually after the first treatment the plants produce multiple new suckers from the base, but the plants are weakened and often easier to pull out. Very large ones take more persistence! However, I have virtually eliminated them on the slope below Lot 67 over the last few years – this was the worst infestation on Crystal Waters 10 years ago. Unfortunately in the past we often haven’t got to them all before they produced seed, so they have spread. Now we are focussing more on preventing seeding to stop the spread.