Yellow soldier (Lachenalia reflexa)

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Yellow soldier is a bulb. It produces a large number of viable seeds that germinate each year, leading to rapid expansion of populations.

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How does this weed affect you?

Yellow soldier has not been found in NSW. If introduced, it could spread very quickly and can:

outcompete native plants
reduce food and habitat for native animals.

What does it look like?

Yellow soldier is a herb with just 2 leaves. It dies back in summer and lies dormant until autumn when it regenerates from the underground bulb. The bulb can persist in the soil for many years.

Leaves:

Yellow soldier plants just have two leaves that grow opposite each other. They are:

6–35 cm long and 1.5–2.5 cm wide
strap-like
serrated along the edges
slightly V-shaped in cross section.

Flowers are:

bright yellow (usually 1–7 flowers per plant)
up to 2.5 cm long
upright, tubular and swollen in the middle
on short stalks, 4.5–10 cm above the ground
present in winter and early spring.

Fruit:

are papery capsules
contain 60-100 seed
burst open when ripe.

Seeds are:

shiny black
about 2 mm long
smooth.

Bulbs are:

a single underground bulb that is renewed each year
also sometimes present above ground at the base of the leaves and flower stems, these are smaller bulbs called bulbils.

Similar looking plants

Yellow soldier looks like other Lachenalia species, none of these have naturalised in NSW.

Where is it found?

Yellow soldier has not been found in NSW. There are infestations in the south west of Western Australia.

It is a native plant in South Africa. It was introduced to Australia as an ornamental plant and had naturalised in Western Australia by the 1950s.

What type of environment does it grow in?

Yellow soldier grows in winter rainfall areas and survive dry summers by becoming dormant. They prefer alkaline soils. In Western Australia, yellow soldier has invaded woodlands, heathlands and limestone scrub areas.

How does it spread?

Yellow soldier has been spread by people planting it as a garden ornamental.

By seed

It is spread mainly by seed. One plant can produce up to 1000 seeds, which can lead to infestations of more than 400 bulbs per square metre. Seeds are released in late spring or summer. Seeds have high viability in the first year, but no seeds remain viable after 3 years. Yellow soldier seeds often germinate after fire when there is bare ground and less competition from native plants.

Seeds are spread by:

moving water
movement of soil
people dumping garden waste.

By plant parts

As well as the main bulb, yellow soldier plants can also produce small bulbs (bulbils) at the base of leaves and flowering stems. These can be spread by earth moving equipment or by people dumping garden waste.

References

Brown, K. (2009) Yellow soldier Lachenalia reflexa: Draft strategic control plan for the Swan NRM Region Department of Environment and Conservation. Western Australia. Retrieved 29 June 2026 from: https://library.dbca.wa.gov.au/FullTextFiles/42153.pdf

Brown, K. & Brooks, K. (2002). Bushland weeds : a practical guide to their management with case studies from the Swan Coastal Plain and beyond. Greenwood, W.A.: Environmental Weeds Action Network Inc Retrieved 29 June 2026 from: https://library.dbca.wa.gov.au/FullTextFiles/021226.pdf

Brown, K., Brooks, K., Madden, S., & Marshall, J. (2002). Control of the exotic bulb, Yellow Soldier (Lachenalia reflexa) invading a Banksia woodland, Perth, Western Australia. Ecological Management & Restoration, 3(1), 28-36.

Brown, K., & Paczkowska, G. (2011). Seed Dynamics of the Invasive Geophyte'Lachenalia reflexa'Thunb. in South-West Australia. Plant Protection Quarterly, 26(2), 47-49.

Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management. (2003). Yellow Soldier (Lachenalia reflexa) Weed Management Guide.

Western Australian Herbarium (1998–). Florabase—the Western Australian flora. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Retrieved 7 July 2026 from: https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/1370

More information

Cooperative Research Centre Management Guide Yellow soldier Lachenalia reflexa

Control

Yellow soldier has not been found in NSW. If you think you have found it contact your local council weeds officer.

By hand

Hand removal is labour intensive and suitable for small infestations. The best time of year is July to October. Remove yellow soldier bulbs by cutting the roots with a knife and pulling them out. Hand removal may cause soil disturbance which can allow weed seeds to germinate.

Fire

Fire does not control yellow soldier, it can reduce competition from native plants and create bare areas where yellow soldier seeds can germinate.

However, fire can help with management because at some times of year it:

makes it easier to see the yellow soldier plants that flower soon after fire if fire occurs in winter
causes mass germination and treating all the seedlings soon after, can help reduce the seed bank in the soil.

Herbicide control

Herbicides are best applied during winter when the plants are actively growing.

Spot spraying

Apply to actively growing plants. Ensure that both the leaves are thoroughly covered with the herbicide mix.

Splatter gun

Splatter guns use small amounts of concentrated herbicide. They spray large droplets that limit spray drift. They are useful for very dense infestations of weeds that are difficult to reach.

Weed wipers

Wipers or wands apply herbicide directly onto leaves. This method can target individual weeds and minimise damage to native or other desirable plants. However, this method is labour intensive and best suited for small, scattered plants.

Herbicide options

WARNING - ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au

See Using herbicides for more information.

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Fluroxypyr 200 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 500 mL to 1 L per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock feed for 7 days after application. See label for further information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Fluroxypyr 333 g/L (Starane™ Advanced)
Rate: 300 to 600 mL per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock food for 7 days after application. See label for more information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 50 parts water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 9 parts water
Comments: Splatter gun
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 20 parts water
Comments: Wipe onto leaves
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 10 - 20 g per 100 L water plus surfactant
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High

PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 10 g per 1 L of water plus surfactant
Comments: Wipe onto leaves
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High

Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.

Area	Duty
All of NSW	General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.

For technical advice and assistance with identification please contact your local council weeds officer.

Reviewed 2020