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VM Insights

Vegetation Management insights for Australia. Expert advice • Practical tips
Education-first, non-product focused
By Indigo Specialty Products Pty Ltd

12/08/2026

Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is a versatile oilseed crop cultivated for its oil-rich seeds, used in food, industrial applications, and animal feed.
Rapeseed, also known as oilseed r**e or canola, belongs to the Brassicaceae family and is closely related to vegetables like broccoli and cabbage.

It is an annual or biennial plant that can grow up to 100 cm (39 inches) or more, with smooth, bluish-green, lobed leaves.

The plant produces bright yellow, four-petaled flowers arranged in spikes, which develop into elongated pods called siliquae containing small, round, oil-rich seeds.

Botanically, r**eseed arose from a hybridization between turnip (Brassica rapa) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea).

05/08/2026

Scotch Thistle (Onopordum acanthium) is present in Australia and is considered a noxious **d in several states.

is an erect annual or biennial that can grow up to 2 meters high and is widely found in temperate south-eastern Australia, including New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory.

It thrives in sub-humid regions with annual rainfall between 500 and 850 mm, preferring well-drained soils of moderate to high fertility and is less common in waterlogged areas.

The plant is competitive in pastures, areas, and river flats, often degrading land and contaminating hay and wool.

Scotch Thistle has grey-green, woolly leaves with spiny edges and a large tap-root. Leaves form a rosette initially, and the plant produces purple or mauve flower heads up to 6 cm in diameter.

Each plant can produce over 20,000 , which are dispersed by wind, animals, and human activity, and seeds can remain viable in the soil for many years.

29/07/2026

Paterson's Curse (Echium plantagineum) is a highly Australian **d with bright purple flowers that is toxic to livestock and can dominate pastures and disturbed land.

Paterson's Curse, also known as Salvation Jane, Purple Bugloss, or Bluew**d, is an annual that can occasionally behave as a biennial.

It grows from a basal rosette in autumn and winter, producing erect flowering stems in spring and early summer, typically 30–60 cm tall, but sometimes reaching up to 2 meters. The leaves are green, hairy, and can cause skin irritation. Flowers are trumpet-shaped, usually purple, but may also appear blue, pink, or rarely white, and are arranged in curved terminal clusters. Each plant can produce over 5,000 seeds per year, which may remain dormant in the soil for up to five years, creating a persistent .

22/07/2026

Serrated Tussock is an , perennial native to South America that poses serious threats to pastures, native grasslands, and agriculture in Australia.

Serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma) is a perennial, tussock-forming grass originally from Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Peru. It is highly invasive and can live for 20 years or more, forming dense clumps that dominate and native .

The plant is drought-tolerant, grows in a wide range of soils, and can withstand freezing conditions, making it difficult to control.

15/07/2026

Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) is a significant w**d in Australia, recognized as a W**d of National Significance due to its invasive nature and potential economic and environmental impacts. It can form dense thickets, affecting agriculture, forestry, and natural ecosystems, and is known to provide food for various wildlife species.

In Australia, blackberry can infest about 9 million hectares of land, causing significant damage to productivity and biodiversity. It is characterized by its prickly stems, which can grow up to 7 meters long, and produces berries that ripen from green to black.

Control measures include the use of , which can be effective but require careful application to avoid harming native species. The Victorian Blackberry Taskforce collaborates with local communities to manage this **d. (Rubus fruticosus) is a significant w**d in Australia, recognized as a W**d of National Significance due to its invasive nature and potential economic and environmental impacts. It can form dense thickets, affecting agriculture, forestry, and natural ecosystems, and is known to provide food for various wildlife species.

In Australia, blackberry can infest about 9 million hectares of land, causing significant damage to productivity and biodiversity. It is characterized by its prickly stems, which can grow up to 7 meters long, and produces berries that ripen from green to black.

Control measures include the use of herbicides, which can be effective but require careful application to avoid harming native species. The Victorian Blackberry Taskforce collaborates with local communities to manage this invasive w**d.

08/07/2026

Feathertop Rhodes Grass (Chloris virgata) is a tufted annual that can grow up to 1 meter tall. It features erect and semi-prostrate branched stems capable of rooting at the joints. The grass has bluish-green leaf blades that are 5 to 25 cm long and 3 to 6 mm wide. The seed-heads or panicles have seven to 19 feathery, white-silver spikes that are 3 to 9 mm long. This grass is known for its prolific production, with over 40,000 seeds per plant, and its high wind dispersal capability. It is a major **d in grain cropping systems across Australia, particularly in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. Feathertop Rhodes grass is difficult to control, especially after the early tillering stage, and glyphosate alone does not provide effective control.

01/07/2026

Gorse (Ulex europaeus) is a significant **d in Australia, particularly in Victoria, Tasmania, the ACT, South Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia, and Queensland.

It is regarded as one of the worst w**ds due to its invasiveness, potential for spread, and significant impacts on the , , and economy.

Gorse can form dense thickets that exclude desirable species, provide cover for feral animals, and reduce grazing capacity in agriculture. It is also a significant and can reduce visibility on . Control of gorse requires an integrated management strategy, including chemical and non-chemical methods, as well as biological control.

**dManagement

24/06/2026

African Lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) is a significant environmental **d in Australia, particularly in regions such as Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia. It is a dense, perennial that can grow between 20 to 120 cm high, with slender, robust stems and dark green to blue-green leaves.

The grass is known for its ability to form dense swards that can crowd out native species and prevent their regeneration. It is also drought-tolerant and can survive long dry periods, making it a persistent competitor in degraded pastures. The seeds of are creamy to dark-orange and are present from January to March.

17/06/2026

Prickly Pear, belonging to the genus Opuntia, is a succulent plant native to the Americas and the Galapagos Islands. It was introduced to Australia with the First Fleet in 1788 and has since become a significant environmental and economic threat.

The Prickly Pear's ability to reproduce by seeds and vegetatively from detached stem segments, has allowed it to spread rapidly, forming dense patches that are virtually impenetrable to people and most animals.

These patches can harbor pest species and significantly reduce land productivity. The Prickly Pear's impact on agriculture, the environment, and human safety is considerable, making it a subject of concern in Australia.

10/06/2026

Lantana (Lantana camara) is one of Australia’s most serious invasive w**ds, particularly across coastal and sub-coastal Queensland and New South Wales. It is a woody, perennial shrub that forms dense thickets, suppresses native vegetation, reduces pasture productivity, increases fire risk, and is toxic to livestock.

Biology:

• Perennial, thorny shrub typically 2–4 m tall
• Reproduces mainly by seed, with berries spread by birds & other animals
• Can also spread vegetatively where stems contact soil
• Flowers and fruits for much of the year in warm climates
• Thrives in disturbed areas, forest margins, roadsides, riparian zones and neglected pastures.

Best timing for control:

The most effective control is when plants are actively growing, allowing good herbicide uptake and movement through the plant. Lantana is rarely controlled with a single treatment. Successful programs rely on initial knockdown plus follow-up treatments over several years, particularly targeting seedlings and regrowth after rain.

Best herbicide timing:

• Late spring through autumn (particularly summer–early autumn) when plants have strong growth and adequate soil moisture
• Avoid treatment during drought stress, cold conditions, or when plants are not actively growing.
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