Barleria is a prickly shrub with yellow flowers. It outcompetes native plants and restricts access to waterways.
Barleria forms dense thickets, which:
Barleria is an erect, prickly, perennial shrub, usually single stemmed and up 1.5 m tall.
Barleria looks similar to these garden plants:
Barleria has not been found in NSW. There are infestations in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Barleria is native to tropical East Africa and Asia. It is grown throughout the world as an ornamental hedge plant, and has escaped from gardens in many regions including Mauritius, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Papua New Guinea.
Barleria grows well in tropical areas but can also grow in subtropical and warm temperate climates. Plants can grow in full sun and partial shade. It prefers well-drained soil and can grow on a wide variety of soil types including sandy soil. Barleria grows:
Most Australian infestations of Baleria have been traced back to garden escapes.
One plant can produce hundreds of seeds each year and the seeds can remain viable in the soil for several years. Seeds need moist conditions to germinate. Most seeds germinate within a few metres of the parent plant. Seeds are also spread by flowing water and people dumping garden waste.
Barleria can grow roots from stem fragments when in moist environments. These can be spread by people dumping garden waste.
CRC for Australian Weed Management (2003). Weed Management Guide: Barleria or porcupine flower. CRC for Australian Weed Management, Adelaide, South Australia.
Identic & Lucid (2016) Weeds of Australia Fact Sheet: Barleria prionitis L. Retrieved 26 April 2023 from: https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/barleria_prionitis.htm
Rojas-Sandoval, J. (2015) CABI Invasive species sheet: Barleria prionitis (porcupine flower). Retrieved 26 April 2023 from: https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.8510
Waterhouse B, Mitchell A, Wilson C, Wilson N, James P, Crothers M, Morrow B, Thorp J, 2003. Weed Management Guide - Barleria or porcupine flower (Barleria prionitis)., Australia: CRC Weed Management.
Contact your local council if you find an infestation of this plan.
To manage barleria:
Small plants may be hand pulled or dug out. Wear gloves to avoid injuries from the spines.
Plants can be burned to destroy the seeds. Contract your local council for other disposal methods.
Spray actively growing plants. Cover all of the foliage with herbicide.
Splatter guns can be used for dense infestations of weeds that are difficult to reach. The specialised nozzle produces large droplets that allow plants up to 10 m away to be sprayed with limited chance of spray drift. Spray small amounts of concentrated herbicide onto the weeds. It is not necessary to cover all of the foliage.
See Using herbicides for more information.
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Fluroxypyr 200 g/L
(Comet® 200 herbicide)
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 31/03/2025
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 31/03/2025
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 31/03/2025
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 31/03/2025
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
The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the 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. |
Reviewed 2023