Thread: Weed help - Greater Brisbane residents, Queensland residents, other states to maybe

A bit of background, I posted this message to the BCC about a bad weed we have in the area. If you also have this weed in your area and you're in Brisbane I'd ask you to please follow the advice below and send a sample and the location into the Queensland herbarium, (or other state's equivalent) so it can be brought to the attention of authorities and possibly listed. Thanks.

Once it is established it suckers readily, the thorns will puncture tractor tyres and the only way to control it is basal poisoning (ouch!)



There is a large infestation of Dichrostachys cinerea (eg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dichrostachys_cinerea) around the area of Kenmore we live in. BCC does not list this weed on the website, but I think it is every bit as bad as mimosa pigra. I just cleaned up an acre or so that was infested and the thorns produce nasty puncture wounds that become very sore. It seems to be very invasive both by seed and suckering. Can we get any help from BCC to eradicate it?
the reply


Hi Michael,

Brisbane City Council has not previously received any complaints regarding this plant and I thank you for bringing Dichrostachys cinerea to our attention as a new and emerging weed. Dichrostachys species are recognised in many countries as serious weeds of agriculture rendering areas inaccessible for farming and grazing. As you rightly point out the plant is not declared by either the State or Brisbane City Council and this does limit the available support for management.

The Queensland herbarium has five records of this plant occurring in the Moreton region of South East Queensland. The small number of records for this plant within Queensland reduces the likelihood of the State declaring this species. By sending a sample of the plant flowers/seed and leaves to the QLD herbarium, this location can be recorded and used to assist future declaration of this species.

Postal address for letters and specimens:
Queensland Herbarium
Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha
Mt Coot-tha Rd
Toowong QLD 4066 AUSTRALIA
Tel: (07) 3896 9326 fax: (07) 3896 9624
Email: Queensland Herbarium

As part of Brisbane City Council’s commitment to conserving our natural assets, a record of new and emerging weedy species is kept of all available information as it comes to our attention. This list of species is investigated by Council’s expert weed panel every 4 years as part of the review of species declared by Council.

Council does offer support for landholders in advice of treatment techniques for problem plants but are limited in physical support of management activities. Council runs a Land for Wildlife program where owners of land greater than 5000sq metres (1.2 acres) can join and receive advice and assistance in management of pest plants. For further information on this program visit Land for Wildlife - Brisbane City Council or contact Council on 07 3403 8888.


The Brisbane Invasive Species Management Plan was approved by Council in December 2007 and is current until 2011. A review of the species declared by Council as pests will occur this year. Declaration of a plant by Council or the State can require substantial expenses to be born by public and private landholders. For a plant to be declared as a weed, there must be substantial evidence of its actual or potential impacts to social, environmental or economic values and that there is a public benefit from the proposed declaration.