Delairea odorata
Family: Asteraceae
Type of weed: Climber, scrambler or groundcover
Flowering Months: June, July, August, September
Description
A vigorous perennial vine. Roots are fibrous or woody and mostly shallow.
Leaves are alternate, glossy, three to eight lobed and ivy-shaped.
Flowers are daisy-like, yellow and scented, in branching clusters on short stalks. Flowering is in winter to early spring.
The plant produces many tiny seeds, each equipped with a small hairy parachute, like dandelion.
Dispersal
Seed is dispersed by wind and water. The plant regenerates very easily from stem fragments and is commonly spread in dumped garden waste.
Impact on bushland
Cape Ivy is a highly invasive plant forming a dense smothering curtain that eventually collapses forest canopy and prevents regeneration of native plants.
Distribution
Lower Blue Mountains. Mid and Lower Blue Mountains
Alternative planting
Native plants
- Twining Purple-pea (Hardenbergia violacea)
- Wonga Wonga Vine (Pandorea pandorana)
- Water Vine (Cissus antarctica)
- Old Man’s Beard (Clematis aristata)
NB: NOT Clematis cultivars – these can also be environmental weeds.
Council provides a tool, on its Mountain Landscapes website, to help you choose native alternative plantings. Choose your village, soil, vegetation community and the purpose of your planting, and the tool will give you suggestions.
There are native nurseries in several Blue Mountains villages, including Glenbrook, Lawson and Katoomba. Please also ask at your favourite local nursery.
Control
- Primary control involves clearing from around trees, shrubs and ferns. Pull out all runners. Remove all parts from moist areas.
- Pull out smaller plants & seedlings. Cut or scrape and paint main woody stems with herbicide. Treat before winter flowering to prevent seed set.
Check sites thoroughly because stem pieces break off easily during clearing.
Follow-up treatment is required.
For key points on these techniques:
- See Weed Control Techniques
- See Risks associated with control
Refer to the NSW Department of Primary Industry’s Noxious and Environmental Weed Control Handbook:
www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/weeds/publications/noxious-enviro-weed-control