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Page Last Updated:
Monday, 20 April 2009 |
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| Bridal Creeper Control Program | |
| Asparagus asparagoides or Bridal Creeper is an invasive environmental weed and is a Weed of National Significance. It has recently been added to the Noxious Weeds list in the restricted weed category. Bridal Creeper is a climber that smothers vegetation and invades bushland, making it a threat to our roadsides, reserves and remnant vegetation across the shire. Not only does it smother vegetation above ground, but underground it forms a thick mat of tubers that stop plants from growing roots and prevents the growth of new seedlings.
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| What should I look for? | | Bridal Creeper has bright green leaves and pale green to white flowers during winter and early spring and bright red berries in the warmer months. It grows over the cooler months by forming a carpet and climbing up vegetation, smothering shrubs and the lower canopy of trees. The underground tubers lie dormant over summer then start the growth cycle again in early autumn.
(Photos by Annie Lamb. Flower photo by Kate Blood. Red berries by CSIRO)
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| What is the problem? | | The main problem is that up to 90 per cent of Bridal Creeper is made up of underground tubers. The tuber mat spreads underground and any disturbance spreads them even further. Bridal Creeper smothers native vegetation making it impossible for new seedlings to grow. Birds, rabbits and foxes eat the Bridal Creeper's berries and disperse the seeds creating further infestations. Bridal Creeper is invading bushland and roadsides across the Wellington Shire Council area and it needs to be eradicated before it takes over.
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| Biological Control | | Over a number of years, biological control is very effective but it needs time to establish.
There are three biological control agents for Bridal Creeper: the leaf hopper, leaf beetles and rust fungus. Each method has been rigourously tested to ensure they are safe. Each biological control agent works on different parts of the plant and at different times in the growing season, and work most effectively together.
Landcare has been working with the Department of Primary Industries Frankston and Wellington Shire Council to release biological control within the Wellington Shire area. Local schools are involved in the Weed Warriors program where students learn about Bridal Creeper, biological control and breed leaf hoppers in the classroom.
Photo: CSIRO
Bridal Creeper rust fungus has been widely released at many locations across southern Australia and extensively in East Gippsland Shire. Maffra & Districts Landcare Network have begun releasing rust fungus and leaf hoppers at locations around the Maffra district, and Yarram Landcare have begun releasing leaf hoppers around the Yarram district. The Bridal Creeper beetle has recently released and is not yet widely available, however, rust fungus is available from Maffra Landcare for people to take home and release locally.
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An example of healthy Bridal Creeper
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An example of Bridal Creeper affected by leaf hoppers
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| Have you seen Bridal Creeper? | | If you have Bridal Creeper on or near your land please contact the Department of Primary Industries (dpi) on 136 186 or visit the dpi website at www.dpi.vic.gov.au
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