Priority invasive plants

Our Biosecurity Plan presents the priority invasive plants for the Sunshine Coast. These were determined by assessing all invasive species impacting or threatening our region. For each species several factors were considered such as:

if listed in the Biosecurity Act (the Act)
potential impacts
locations and how widespread
ease of spread
availability, effectiveness and cost of control measures.

To help focus weed management efforts and resources, each priority species has an identified management objective. Reasonable and practical measures to achieve each of these management objectives are included in the plan.

Priority invasive plants by management objective

Prevention

These species are not currently found on the Sunshine Coast. If these species became established, they could result in significant impacts. It is important for land managers to prevent the entry and establishment of these species.

Species ‘Prohibited’ under the Act (must be reported to Biosecurity Queensland):

Cha-om (Senegalia spp)
Harrisia cactus (Harrisia spp. syn. Eriocereus spp. other than H. martinii, H. tortuosa and H. pomanensis)
Karoo thorn (Vachellia karoo)
Mexican bean tree (Cecropia pachystachya, C. palmata & C. peltata)
Peruvian primrose bush (Ludwigia peruviana)
Yellow fever tree (Vachellia xanthophloea)

Species 'Restricted' under the Act (please report to Council):

African boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum)
Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides)
Bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. rotundifolia)
Harrisia cactus (Harrisia martinii, H. tortuosa and H. pomanensis)
Limnocharis, yellow burrhead (Limnocharis flava)
Madras thorn (Pithecellobium dulce)
Pond apple (Annona glabra)
Prickly acacia (Vachellia nilotica syn. Acacia nilotica spp. indica)
Rubber vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora)
Senegal tea (Gymnocoronis spilanthoides)
Sicklepod, hairy cassia (S. hirsuta)
Tobacco weed (Elephantopus mollis)
Water mimosa (Neptunia oleracea and N. Plena)

Eradication

These species are present in low numbers and found in only a few locations on the Sunshine Coast. However, if they spread further, they will cause significant impacts. Elimination of these species is achievable for land managers.

Species ‘Prohibited’ under the Act (must be reported to Biosecurity Queensland):

Cholla cactus (prohibited) - all Cylindropuntia spp. and hybrids (other than C.fulgida, C. imbricata, C. prolifera, C. rosea, C. spinosior and C. tunicata)
Prickly pears (prohibited) - all Opuntia spp. (other than O. monacantha, O. aurantiaca, O. tomentosa, O. streptacantha, O. microdasys, O. elata, O. stricta and O. ficus-indica)

Species 'Restricted' under the Act (please report to Council):

Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)
Cane cactus (Austrocylindropuntia cylindrica)
Coral cactus (Cylindropuntia fulgida), Devil’s rope pear (C. imbricata), Snake cactus (C. spinosior)
Drooping tree pear (Opuntia monacantha syn. O. vulgaris), Tiger pear (O. aurantiaca), Velvety tree pear (O. tomentosa) and Westwood pear (O. streptacantha)
Eve’s pin cactus (Austrocylindropuntia subulata)
Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis)
Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos including cultivars & varieties)
Hudson pear (C. rosea and C. tunicata), Jumping cholla (C. prolifera)
Kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata syn. P. lobata, P. triloba)
Parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus)
Prickly pear (Opuntia elata), Bunny ears (O. microdasys)

Containment

These species are found in parts of the Sunshine Coast but not everywhere. Where they do occur, they cause notable impacts. Land managers should reduce the impact of these species and stop their spread across the landscape.

Species ‘Restricted’ under the Act:

African fountain grass (Cenchrus setaceum)
American rat’s tail grass (Sporobolus jacquemontii)
Balloon vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum)
Blackberry (Rubus anglocandicans, Rubus fruticosus aggregate)
Cabomba (Cabomba caroliniana)
Cats claw creeper (Dolichandra unguis-cati)
Climbing asparagus (Asparagus africanus and A. plumosus)
Common giant rats tail grass (Sporobolus pyramidalis and S.nataensis)
Creeping lantana (Lantana montevidensis)
Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia spp. other than native species)
Giant parramata grass (Sporobolus fertilis)
Groundsel bush (Baccharis halimifolia)
Hymenachne (Hymenachne amplexicaulis and hybrids)
Madeira vine (Anredera cordifolia)
Mother of millions (Bryophyllum delagoense syn. B. tubiflorum, Kalanchoe delagoensis)
Mother of millions hybrid (Bryophyllum x houghtonii)
Prickly pear, Common pest pear, Spiny pest pear (Opuntia stricta syn. O. inermis)
Salvinia (Salvinia molesta)
Thunbergia (Thunbergia grandiflora syn. T. laurifolia)
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)

Asset Protection

These species occur across the whole of the Sunshine Coast. They cause some impacts where they occur. These species should be managed when they threaten or impact high-value assets. This may include important environmental, agriculture, or community areas.

Species ‘Restricted’ under the Act:

African tulip tree (Spathodea campanulata)
Basket asparagus (Asparagus aethiopicus)
Broad leaf pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolius)
Broad-leaf privet, tree privet (Ligustrum lucidum)
Camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora)
Chinese celtis (Celtis sinensis)
Hygrophila (Hygrophila costata)
Lantana – common (Lantana camara)
Ornamental gingers (Hedychium gardnerianum, h. coronarium, h. flavescens)
Privets–small-leaf privet, Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense)
Sagittaria (Sagittaria platyphylla)
Singapore daisy (Sphagneticola trilobata syn. Wedelia trilobata)
Willows (all Salix spp. other than S. babylonica, S. x calodendron and S. x reichardtii)
Yellow oleander, Captain Cook tree (Cascabela thevetia syn.Thevetia peruviana)
Yellow bells (Tecoma stans)

Alert

These species are not well established on the Sunshine Coast. They are not listed in the Act but can still cause impacts where they occur. It is recommended land managers take action to prevent entry of these species and control them if they are found.

Amazonian Frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum)
Hiptage (Hiptage benghalensis)
Yellow or Mexican waterlily (Nymphaea mexicana)

Locally Significant

These species are often relatively widespread across the Sunshine Coast. They are not listed in the Act but can cause impacts where they occur. It is recommended land managers take action to control and prevent the spread of these species when they are impacting or threatening high value natural areas.