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Native alternatives to environmental weeds | Australian native plants | Gardening Australia



Josh is on Whadjuk Country, where he visits a native plant nursery to provide some local alternatives to environmental weeds that are hiding in everyday gardens.

In Australia, weeds are among the top threats to Australian biodiversity. They can displace native plant species, degrade habitat for native animals, harbour pests and disease, create fuel loads for fires and compete with native species for space, water and nutrients.

Some 65% of the exotic weedy species in Australia started out as garden plants and gardens comprise the major pool of future weeds*. Some of these can still be found for sale, which means that as gardeners, we have a crucial role to play in stopping garden escapes at their source – by choosing to grow non-invasive species instead.

Weed: Dietes, which is native to Southern Africa, has strappy leaves with white or yellow flowers on long stems. They’re tough but their seeds spread easily.

Great choice: Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos cv.) such as red-flowered ‘Bush Elegance’, pink ‘Bush Pearl’ and other colourful cultivars.

Weed: Century Plant (Agave Americana) A giant succulent that is an environmental weed in most states. It produces a tall flower spike, but then spreads via hundreds of offsets, known as ‘pups’

Great choice: Balga or grass tree (Xanthorrhoea preissii), which has tall flower spikes and eye-catching foliage. Cockatoos love to eat the seed and honeyeaters and insects love the nectar.

Weed: Even Australian species growing outside their natural range can be weeds. The Sydney golden wattle (Acacia longifolia), is a classic example.

Great choice: In WA gardens, the Jam wattle (Acacia acuminata) is a good choice forming an open small tree with yellow flower rods and delicate, long leaves. However, this WA native is, in turn, a weed in some parts of Eastern Australia.

Please check with local authorities to see if a plant is considered an environmental weed in your area. (Remember that some native plants can also be considered a weed, depending on where you live.) Visit the Weeds Australia website for more information.

* SEE CSIRO 2005 report – Jumping the Garden Fence: http://www.spiffa.org/uploads/2/6/7/5/2675656/jumping_the_garden_fence.pdf

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17 Comments

  4. jeremy hegge

    great video. although we need to think local instead of "native" as many plants sold as native may not grow naturally within 1000's of km from where they are planted due to the size/biodiversity of aus. plants from east/west, north/south, etc. can just as easily become environmental weeds as a plant from overseas. + think of species that invite and provide food or protection for local species (especially small honeyeaters) not just garden birds like noisy miners. there are plenty of local, hardy species to choose from no matter where you live.

  7. Lsearcherfinder

    Thanks friend sharing the video. I love Australian environment and Australian native plants! The video makes me miss my university (QUT, Brisbane, Queensland ) where I spent 2 years for my postgraduate degree! It’s 10 years ago. Miss so much! Again, thanks for the video.

  9. sandponics

    So why don't you tell us the name of the nursery that you visited, so that we can buy plants from them?

  11. Miriam Teunen

    Can ant plants grow in Melbourne? Every time we expect rain is when ants start to come into our bathroom.
    I don't like killing them so I thought an ant plant might do the trick. Any advise?

  14. Harley Goff

    i want to grow sum banksia and i would to grow kangaroo paws . i am growing sum eucalyptus and a grevillia and a couple of calistomons but wie r in utah in north america and it gits about 5 degreese sumtimes in winter i haft a black accia nat sure if it will bounce back akot of its leaves dried out while in da house before i planted it

  16. Mat John

    Don’t allow people to grow exotic plants simple grow local endemic plants to your area and fruit and veg and it would be that beneficial it’s not funny make a law that u can’t grow exotic plants

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