As the highly-invasive cassia plant moves into bloom in local backyards, reserves and roadsides, Eurobodalla Council is reminding the community that the pretty weed poses an ugly threat to our native plants and animals.
Council’s natural resource officer Courtney Fink-Downes said Council would provide vouchers for free native plants to residents who removed the invasive cassia from their backyards.
“You may be enjoying the profusion of bright yellow flowers cropping up in your garden but don’t be fooled; its looks are deceiving,” she said.
“Every autumn cassia shrubs produce thousands of seeds, which spread easily and can stay viable in the soil for up to five years.
“Its flowers, seeds and spindly branches are of little value to native birds and animals so they will tend to move away from areas overrun with Cassia.
“Now is the perfect time to remove this aggressive plant from your garden. If they are caught while flowering, the seed is prevented from maturing and spreading.”
Residents can remove mature cassia plants by cutting the base of the trunk and painting the cut area with poison, while smaller plants can be pulled out by hand.
“The entire root system needs to either be removed or poisoned to keep the cassia from re-sprouting,” Ms Fink-Downes said.
“As a thank you for removing it from your backyard, Council will give you a voucher for free native plants to use at the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden through our free bush friendly garden visit program.
“You’ll be able to get lovely flowering alternatives that complement the local bushland and attract native birds, rather than hinder them.”
To take advantage of your free bush friendly garden visit, contact Council’s natural resource officer Courtney Fink-Downes on 4474 7493 or email courtney.fink@esc.nsw.gov.au
For more information about plants considered weeds in Eurobodalla, including Council’s weeds finder database, visit www.esc.nsw.gov.au and search “south coast weeds”.
Above: Cassia, or Senna, is an invasive weed currently flowering in Eurobodalla. Remove it from your garden and get free native replacement plants from Council as a thank you for helping the local environment.
