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A shrub is a small to medium sized woody plant. Unlike herbs, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple stems and shorter height and are usually under six metres tall. Weedy shrubs often dominate the landscape after outcompeting native species.
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Boneseed (Bitou Bush) - Chrysanthemoides monilifera Regionally Controlled Noxious Weed Characteristics: An upright perennial shrub reaching heights of 3m. Its dull green, paddle-shaped leaves have irregularly serrated edges and terminal tufts of cottony down. Bright yellow flowers appear from late winter to spring, followed by blackberries containing hard seeds in summer. Risk Rating: High Risk Control Methods: Hand pulling, cut & paint and drill & fill |
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Cape Broom, Montpellior Broom - Genista monspessulana Regionally Controlled Noxious Weed Characteristics: Upright perennial shrub, reaching 2-3m in height, with hairy trifoliate leaves arranged alternately along branches and upper stems. Bears bright yellow pea flowers singly or in clusters during spring, followed by flat silky seed pods. Risk Rating: Very High Risk Control Methods: Hand pulling, cut & paint, cut back & clear off, spot spraying and prevention |
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Flax-leaved Broom - Genista linifolia Regionally Controlled Noxious Weed Characteristics: Erect woody shrub with light green leaves, smooth on top and silky white underneath. Leaflets are small, narrow trifoliate, grey-green, and densely packed near the tips. Bright yellow flowers form clusters exclusively at the ends of branches. Pods contain two to three seeds and are flattened and silky. Risk Rating: Very High Risk Control Methods: Hand pulling, cut & paint, cut back & clear off, spot spraying and prevention |
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Gorse, Furze - Ulex europaeus Regionally Controlled Noxious Weed Characteristics: Compact thorny shrub, reaching 3-4m in height and width. Older branches are rough and brown, while newer growth is green and extensively branched. Leaves are spiky. Bright yellow pea flowers form terminal clusters from July to January. Serves as a significant habitat for pest animals. Risk Rating: High Risk Control Methods: Hand pulling, cut & paint, drill & fill, cut back & clear off and spot spraying |
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Holly - Ilex aquifolium Characteristics: Typically an upright, much-branched shrub or small tree, reaching heights of up to 10m, occasionally growing taller to 15m. Its thick, leathery leaves have glossy dark green upper surfaces and paler, duller undersides, each tipped with a spine. Small pinkish-white flowers, around 8mm in diameter, occur in clusters of three in the leaf forks. The rounded berry-like fruit, 7-10mm in diameter, ripen to a bright red in autumn and are mildly toxic to humans, leading to vomiting if ingested. Risk Rating: Very High Risk Control Methods: Hand pulling, cut & paint, cut back & clear off and spot spraying |
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Maderia Winter-cherry - Solanum pseudocapsicum Characteristics: Quickly growing shrub, reaching 1m in height. Features pointed, dark green leaves emitting a potent, unpleasant scent. Bears small white flowers from spring to summer, followed by bright orange-red berries in late summer. Risk Rating: High Risk Control Methods: Hand pulling, cut & paint and drill & fill |
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Myrtle-leaf Milkwort - Polygala myrtifolia Characteristics: Compact shrub, up to 2m in height, sporting small oval leaves and purple flowers resembling butterflies. Its hard seeds have high germination rates, particularly following fire or disturbance. Exhibits resilience across various environmental conditions. Risk Rating: Very High Risk Control Methods: Prevention, hand pulling, cut & paint and spot spraying |
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Red-ink Weed - Phytolacca octandra Characteristics: Medium-sized bushy shrub with soft wood. Features elongated oval leaves with a pointed tip, emitting a strong odour when crushed. Produces small white flowers arranged densely in a spike, which may be greenish or tinged with red, followed by shiny purple or black berries. Stems frequently display a reddish hue. Risk Rating: High Risk Control Methods: Prevention, hand pulling, cut & paint and spot spraying |
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Spanish Heath - Erica lusitanica Characteristics: A tall upright shrub, reaching 3m in height. Features small, densely packed leaves without hairs. Abundant white flowers with pink-tinged buds, with dark purple anther lobes. Blooms during winter. Risk Rating: Very High Risk Control Methods: Hand pulling, cut & paint, cut back & clear off and spot spraying |
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Irish Strawberry Tree - Arbutus unedo Characteristics: A petite tree reaching 6m height, featuring dark green leaves with finely serrated edges and reddish stems. Bears small white urn-shaped flowers from autumn to winter, succeeded by red strawberry-like fruits. Risk Rating: High Risk Control Methods: Prevention, hand pulling, cut & paint and drill & fill |
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Willow Hakea - Hakea salicifolia Characteristics: Rapidly growing shrub up to 5m tall, producing clusters of creamy white flowers from late winter to spring, followed by hard nut-like fruit. Its long leaves range from dull yellowish to dark green, situated on brown stems. Risk Rating: Very High Risk Control Methods: Hand pulling, cut & paint, drill & fill and prevention |
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Cedar Wattle - Acacia elata Characteristics: A medium-sized tree, reaching up to 15m in height. It has large, glossy, dark green leaves resembling ferns. Produces pale yellow ball-shaped flowers in summer. Risk Rating: High Risk Control Methods: Hand pulling, cut & paint, drill & fill and prevention |
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Early Black Wattle - Acacia decurrens Characteristics: A moderate-sized tree, up to 10m tall, featuring vivid green fern-like leaves and stems with angular ridges. Produces clusters of bright yellow ball-shaped flowers from late winter to spring. Risk Rating: High Risk Control Methods: Hand pulling, cut & paint, drill & fill and prevention |
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Flinders Range Wattle - Acacia iteaphylla Characteristics: A sparse shrub, reaching 2-3m in height, with slender, elongated, greyish-green foliage. Produces short sprays of pale yellow ball-shaped flowers in winter. Risk Rating: Moderately High Risk Control Methods: Hand pulling, cut & paint, drill & fill and prevention |
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Sticky Wattle - Acacia howittii Characteristics: A small rounded tree, reaching up to 8m in height. It produces dark green, pointed oval foliage that is sticky to touch, hanging from drooping branches. Produces pale yellow single ball-shaped flowers in spring. Risk Rating: High Risk Control Methods: Hand pulling, cut & paint, drill & fill and prevention |
