Pest plants and their removal
To help identify pest weeds in our backyards, the wider local environment and to provide guidance on restoration of our sand dunes back to their natural state, Horizons Regional Council have provided a flyer titled Coastal Weeds to manage for sand dune restoration.
The primary control methods recommended are hand-pulling and the application of herbicide gel. Ensure you identify the most suitable gel for the target species and carefully review the product's safety instructions for correct health & safety protocols before use. Any spraying must be undertaken by a trained and competent operator. For detailed guidance on control techniques specific to each plant type, visit www.weedbusters.co.nz
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​To read the full HRC flyer, including a comprehensive list of coastal weeds, click here or click on the flyer image.
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The content shown below has been compiled by WBEG from various sources. More comprehensive information on each plant can be accessed by clicking on an image.
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Pampas
Pampas is a large-clump-forming grass (<4 m+). It colonises sprayed, burnt, slipped and otherwise disturbed sites and quickly becomes dense. Pampas replaces groundcovers, shrubs, and ferns, creates fire hazards, provides habitats for possums and rats, and impedes access. Normally followed by weedy vines.
Tree Lupin
Lupin is a short-lived, perennial shrub (<2-3 m tall) with deep taproot and tough, branching stems. It lowers light levels in open habitats, causing subsequent invasion by weedy shrubs, vines, wilding pines, etc. It causes sand to build up, altering the shape of coastlines or rivers and causing erosion. Increased cover prevents some birds nesting and increases predation by cats and mustelids.
Blackberry
Blackberry is a scrambling, very thorny, semi-erect shrub that is usually deciduous, with large root crowns and long suckers. Stems arching (occasionally semi-prostrate), entangled, green or red and occasionally taking root when in contact with the ground. Low to moderate damage in open habitats. Smothers most low growing species, inhibiting the establishment of native plant seedings, and impedes access.
Gorse
Gorse is a sharply spiny shrub (<2-3 m tall) with woody erect or spreading stems which are many-branched in younger plants but become bare at the base as the plant gets older. Leaves are reduced to spines, new leaves less so. Forms pure associations temporarily in many habitats, inhibiting the establishment of native plant seedlings. Increased nitrogen in poor soil types changes native species able to grow there.
Tropical Horseweed
When fully grown (in summer or autumn), Erigeron sumatrensis reaches one to two metres in height. Flowers are white rather than purple-pink. It's leaves are like dandelion leaves, but longer, thinner and more like primrose leaves in colour and texture. It's seeding heads are like dandelions, but straw coloured and smaller. In certain countries the plant has started to exhibit resistance to herbicides.
Sydney Golden Wattle
Sydney golden wattle is a shrub to small tree with sharply angled, hairless or sparsely angled twigs. Numerous small, puffy, pale to golden yellow flowers appear in cylindrical spikes. It forms dense stands in disturbed and bare sites, and prevents native species from establishing. Fixes nitrogen, affecting specialised low-fertility plant communities (ferns, orchids, kauri, etc).