Bridal Creeper

Asparagus asparagoides

BridalCreeperisaWeedofNationalSignificance.Itisregardedasoneoftheworstweedsin Australiabecauseofitsinvasiveness,potentialforspread,andeconomicandenvironmental impacts.

The Problem / Impact

Bridalcreeperenteredthecountryasagardenplantandis nowamajorweedofbushlandinsouthernAustralia,where itsclimbingstemsandfoliagesmothernativeplants. Itforms athickmatofundergroundtuberswhichimpedesthe root growthofotherplantsandoftenprevents seedling establishment.

Bridalcreeperinvadesdrycoastalvegetation,heathlandand healthywoodland,malleeshrubland,lowlandgrasslandand grassywoodland,drysclerophyllforestandwoodland,dampsclerophyllforest,riparian vegetation,rockoutcropvegetation,and warmtemperaterainforest.

InSouthAustraliaandsouthwesternWesternAustraliabridalcreeperisconsideredthemost importantweedthreattobiodiversity.

Growth Habit & Biological Weak Link

Bridalcreeperisaclimbingherborvinetothree metres, arisingfromashortrhizomeattachedtotuberous roots. Bridalcreeperplantstakeatleastthreeyearstoreach floweringsize -theflowersappearingalongthelengthofthe shootsinAugustandSeptember.Thegreenberriesturn red inlatespringtoearlysummer.

Anundergroundmatofrhizomesandtubersmakeupthe bulkoftheplant.Thesetubersprovidewater,energyand nutrientsthatenabletheplanttosurviveoversummerand allowrapidshootgrowthinautumn.

BridalCreeperhasanumberoffeatureswhichmakeit difficulttocontrol–itstuberreservesprovideabuffer againstadverseseasons,ithasawidegerminationrange and,unlikesomeotherweeds,itcaninvadeundisturbed sites.Buttherearealsoweaknessesinitsbiology–ithas arelatively short-livedseedbank,seedproductiononlyoccursonearlyemergingstems,andthe seedoutputinoldinfestationsissmall.

Management & Control Options

Becauseofextensivestoragereservesintheroottissues,themosteffectivemeansof managingbridalcreeperinvolvesintegratingarangeoftreatmenttechniques:

BIOLOGICALCONTROL:

BridalCreeperRustandLeafHoppers assoonaspossible.LeafHopperand Rustmaybetransferredfrominfected areasbycollectingabagfullofinfested andinfectedgreenstemsandleaves, sealingitsotheleafhoppersdon't escapeandthentransferringittothe infestationasquicklyaspossibleand rubbingitintotheBridalCreeper greenery.

CHEMICALCONTROL:

Formoredetailsgoto: https://www agric wa gov au/herbicides/bridal-creeper-control

Rehabilitation & Prevention

Preventnewoutbreaks:Donotplantbridalcreeperinyourgarden;replaceexistingplantswith desirablespeciesandsafelydisposeofgardenwaste.Keep500mbufferzonesforbridal creeperaroundtheedgeofaninfestation.

Follow-up:Afterfiretreatregrowthcarefullywithherbicidetolimitabovegroundgrowthand furtherreducethestoredrootreserves.Monitorinfestationsregularlyandoverseveralyears becauseoftheprobabilityofregrowthfromremnantsoftherootsystem.Regularlycheckfor newoutbreaks.Itmaybepossibletohanddigrootsinneworsmallinfestations.

References & Further Information

SourcesofInformationforthisflier:

WeedManagementGuide(Bridalcreeper-Asparagusasparagoides)-CRCforAustralianWeedManagementand theCommonwealthDepartmentoftheEnvironmentandHeritage DPIRDWebsite:https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/declared-plants/bridal-creeper-declared-pest AReviewofBridalCreeperControlintheSouthwestofWesternAustralia2018–ReportbyGeraldineandSteve JanickeSeptember2018,OysterHarbourCatchmentGroup

FurtherReading:

Moore,J&Wheeler,J(2019)SouthernWeedsandtheircontrol DepartmentofAgricultureandFoodWA HerbiGuidewww herbiguide com au-Detailedinformationaboutweedspeciesandcontrolmethods

LowerBlackwoodLCDC 403KudardupRoad,KudardupWA6288 POBox42,KarridaleWA6288

T:97584021| E: info@lowerblackwoodcomau wwwlowerblackwoodcomau

ThisbookletwasfundedthroughtheStateNRM CommunityStewardshipGrants2019