Bindweed/Convolvulus

Calystegia

The Problem

Bindweed grows faster, spreads wider, and outcompetes native plants, making it much harder for natural ecosystems (or planting projects like those at Hot Water Beach) to thrive.

Control Method

Hand-pull small plants only if all stem and root fragments can be removed; dispose of roots/fragments securely. For larger stems/patches, use cut-and-stump treatment or careful spot-spraying with a labelled product. Follow up repeatedly because root fragments and rhizomes resprout. Avoid herbicide near water.

Blue Periwinkle

Vinca major

The Problem

Blue periwinkle is an invasive garden plant that spreads rapidly through creeping stems and underground runners. It forms dense mats that smother native vegetation, prevent native seedlings from growing, and can quickly dominate bush margins, stream banks, and coastal habitats.

Control Method

Dig or rake out runners, rhizomes and rooted stems, removing every fragment to refuse/bury/burn. Smothering with black plastic or weed mat can work for small patches. Treat regrowth early and repeat follow-up several times a year; dense patches may need repeated treatment over 2-3 years.

Climbing/Rambling Dock

Rumex Sagittatus

The Problem

Climbing Dock spreads quickly, climbs over everything, and chokes out native plants—making it very hard for bush and restoration plantings to survive.

Control Method

Dig out small infestations including tubers and rhizomes; bag/dispose of tubers, rhizomes and seed capsules. Spot-spray active regrowth or follow-up after digging with a labelled herbicide where appropriate. Replant or mulch bare ground and check for resprouting from missed fragments.

Impatiens

Impatiens sodenii

The Problem

Impatiens is an invasive garden escape that spreads rapidly through waterways and damp areas. It forms dense colonies that smother native plants, reduce biodiversity, and leave stream banks vulnerable to erosion when it dies back each winter.

Control Method

Start control at the top of the catchment/slope to reduce reinfestation. Hand-pull small plants or dig out full root systems before seeding. Keep stems/fragments off damp soil because they can root at nodes. For dense patches, use cut-and-paste or foliar spray with a labelled herbicide, avoiding desirable plants.

Pampas Grass

Cortaderia selloana / C. jubata

The Problem

Pampas grass is an aggressive invasive weed that spreads rapidly through millions of wind-blown seeds. It forms dense stands that crowd out native plants, reduce biodiversity, and make restoration projects far more difficult

Control Method

Confirm it is not native toetoe before treating. Remove and dispose of flowerheads before seed set. Hand-pull/dig small plants, removing the crown. For established clumps, foliar-spray actively growing plants with a labelled grass herbicide. Do not use herbicide near water unless the label allows it. Replant/cover bare soil and monitor seedlings

Woolly Nightshade / Tobacco Weed

Solanum mauritianum

The Problem

Woolly nightshade is a fast-growing invasive tree that produces large numbers of seeds dispersed by birds. It quickly invades bush margins and open areas, forming dense stands that smother native vegetation. Its leaves can also cause skin and respiratory irritation in some people.

Control Method

Wear gloves/eye protection and avoid inhaling dusty hairs. Hand-pull small seedlings or dig out the full root system. For larger shrubs/trees, cut low and immediately treat the stump with a labelled herbicide, or use basal/drill-and-fill methods where appropriate. Do not use relevant herbicides over/near water unless the label allows it. Monitor for many seedlings after control.

Blackberry / Bramble

Rubus fruticosus agg.

The Problem

Blackberry forms dense, thorny thickets that dominate roadsides, stream margins, coastal areas, and native bush edges. It spreads by seed, root suckers, and arching canes that root where they touch the ground, excluding native plants, restricting access, and creating long-term infestations that are difficult to control.

Control Method

For small plants, dig out the root crown and as much rhizome as possible; dispose of or burn plant material where permitted. Larger canes can be cut and stump-treated, basal-treated or foliar-sprayed in summer-autumn with a labelled herbicide. Expect regrowth after slashing/grazing and repeat follow-up; encourage canopy/native cover to suppress reinvasion.

Tibouchina / Princess Flower

Tibouchina urvilleana

The Problem

Princess flower is a popular garden plant that can escape into native bush, where it forms dense thickets that shade out native seedlings and understory vegetation. It spreads by seed and vegetative growth, competing with native plants for light, space, and resources, reducing biodiversity in natural areas.

Control Method

If retained as ornamental, prune after flowering/early spring and remove unwanted seedlings. If removal is required in a natural area, cut low and treat stump or regrowth using locally approved woody-weed methods. Dispose of green waste securely and confirm local pest status before large-scale control.

Canna Lily / Indian Shot

Canna indica

The Problem

Canna lily spreads rapidly through underground rhizomes, forming dense colonies along waterways, wetlands, and disturbed areas. These thick infestations displace native plants, restrict regeneration, and can be difficult to remove because small rhizome fragments readily regrow.

Control Method

Deadhead seed capsules and dig out entire clumps, including all rhizome fragments. Do not dump or compost rhizomes. For established patches, cut-and-paste stems or foliar-spray regrowth with a labelled herbicide, taking extra care around waterways. Follow up because fragments left in soil resprout; replant with suitable native species.

Ivy

Hedera helix

The Problem

English ivy is a vigorous climbing and ground-cover weed that smothers native vegetation, prevents seedling establishment, and can eventually overwhelm trees. It spreads by stem fragments and bird-dispersed berries, making it difficult to contain once established.

Control Method

Small infestations should be pulled out with roots, while larger infestations may require cutting vines and treating regrowth with herbicide.

Agapanthus

Gapanthus praecox

The Problem

Agapanthus is a problem because it spreads easily, forms thick root mats, and takes over entire areas—stopping native plants from growing and reducing biodiversity.

Control Method

Remove flower/seed heads before seed drops. Dig out scattered plants including crown and rhizomes, then dispose of plant material at landfill/refuse rather than composting. For large plants, cut-and-paste or foliar-spray with a labelled herbicide; repeat follow-up until regrowth stops.