Bridal veil creeper (Asparagus declinatus)
PROHIBITED MATTER: If you see this plant report it. Call the NSW DPI Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244
Bridal veil creeper is a fern-like scrambler or low-climber originally introduced as an ornamental plant. It is an environmental weed that can quickly dominate surrounding vegetation.
This weed belongs to the group Asparagus weeds
This plant is a Weed of National Significance
This plant is not to be sold in all or parts of NSW
Profile
How does this weed affect you?
Bridal veil creeper is a highly invasive environmental weed that that produces thick tuberous root masses and dense foliage, smothering and out-competing surrounding vegetation.
Its impacts are similar to bridal creeper (Asparagus asparagoides), however bridal veil creeper has proven more difficult to control.
It currently infests coastal environments and urban bushland, and is a potential weed of roadsides, waterways, waste areas, open woodlands and closed forests.
If not controlled, bridal veil has the potential to become a severe threat to biodiversity in coastal areas of southern Australia.
Where is it found?
Bridal veil creeper is a native of the south-west region of South Africa. It was introduced into Australia around 1870 as an ornamental plant and first naturalised on the mainland in 1966.
Although currently known only from Western Australia and South Australia, its potential distribution is most of southern coastal Australia. It is not currently known to occur in NSW.
How does it spread?
Bridal veil creeper reproduces from seed, and vegetatively from underground tubers and rhizomes.
Shoots begin to appear in autumn and scramble across the ground. With the onset of winter, shoots develop dense foliage. Foliage begins to wither and die as temperatures rise, usually in late spring. Over the hot summer months the underground tuberous roots survive without above ground foliage.
Flowering occurs from mid to late winter. Green berries begin to form from late winter to early spring, maturing to pale green in late spring and early summer.
Fruit are primarily spread by birds, with possums and other ground-dwelling animals are potential means of spread. Fruit are also spread in water and garden waste.
Tubers and rhizomes are primarily spread by people dumping garden waste and on earth moving equipment.
What does it look like?
Bridal veil creeper is a scrambler or low climber with short-lived, thornless stems up to 3 m long.
The root system is extensive and long-lived, and consists of tubers and long rhizomes.
Leaf-like cladodes (modified stems) are densely arranged in groups of 3 along short, finely-branched side shoots off a wiry, main stem. The cladodes are blue-green, soft, needle-shaped, 3–10 mm long and less than 1 mm wide.
Flowers are greenish-white and 5-8 mm in diameter.
Berries are about 10 mm in diameter; initially light green, but turning pale white as they mature. There are 3-9 seeds in a berry; each about 3 mm wide and black when ripe.
Acknowledgements
Text compilation: Harry Rose
Technical review: Rod Ensbey
Editing: Elissa van Oosterhout
References
Invasive Species Compendium (2014) Asparagus declinatus. Available at http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/112476
Lawrie S (2004) Biology, Ecology and Dispersal Vectors of Bridal Veil (Asparagus declinatus). School of Geography, Population and Environmental Management, Flinders University and Asparagus Weeds Working Group - Southern Hills Region, Adelaide, South Australia. Available at http://www.weeds.org.au/WoNS/bridalcreeper/docs/SLawrie_BridalVeilPresweb.pdf
Lawrie, S. (2006) Bridal Veil. In National Asparagus Weeds Management Committee, Asparagus Weeds - Best Practice Management Manual. Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, South Australia. Available at http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/weeds/publications/guidelines/manuals/asparagus-weeds-manual.html
Office of Environment and Heritage (2013) Asparagus weeds management manual: current management and control options for asparagus weeds (Asparagus spp.) in Australia. Office of Environment and Heritage (NSW)
Weeds in Australia: Asparagus declinatus. http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/biodiversity/invasive/weeds/weeddetails.pl?taxon_id=66908
Other publications
Control
You must report this plant if you see it anywhere in NSW. Call the helpline listed above. Help will then be provided to remove and destroy it. This serious weed could spread if control efforts do not follow all protocols. Not reporting it is a breach of your legal biosecurity duty.
Physical control
Bridal veil creeper seedlings or small plants can be hand pulled in small to medium sized infestations.
Plants can be dug out, but the entire root system needs to be removed.
Physical removal can be difficult, due to the way in which its root system can spread beneath the roots of nearby vegetation as well as other objects such as rocks, logs and other structures (e.g. fences).
Removal should be done in autumn and winter when soils are moist, pre-flowering / fruiting is best, and when plants have foliage on them.
Slashing or pulling off of above-ground foliage can be undertaken under some circumstances. However, it will not kill the plants and is not suitable for natural areas. It is usually undertaken around 6 months prior to spraying.
Individual plants within small infestations can be physically pulled or grubbed out. Take care to remove all parts of the plant, bag them for 2-3 months in the sun and then disposed of in a local government rubbish tip.
If plants can’t be fully removed then cutting back above-ground growth will minimise fruit development and weaken plants.
There are currently no biological control agents for bridal veil creeper.
Herbicide control
Herbicide applications are recommended for medium to large infestations, but can also be used for small infestations.
For best results, use a foliar spray during the winter to early spring flowering period when plants are actively growing.
Foliage often mingles with desirable vegetation, making off-target damage from foliar spraying problematic. The foliage also provides little surface area for chemical uptake.
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
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 31/03/2020
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Roundup®)
Rate: 1 part glyphosat to 50 parts water
Comments: Spot spray application
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: M, Inhibitors of EPSP synthase
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2020
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Roundup®)
Rate: 1 part glyphosate to 1.5 parts water
Comments: Cut stump / scrape stem application
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: M, Inhibitors of EPSP synthase
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2020
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg
(Brush-off®)
Rate: 1 - 2 g in 10 L of water plus a non-ionic surfactant
Comments: Spot spray application
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: B, Inhibitors of acetolactate synthase (ALS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High
Picloram 44.7 g/kg + Aminopyralid 4.47 g/L
(Vigilant II ®)
Rate: Undiluted
Comments: Cut stump / stem injection application
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: I, Disruptors of plant cell growth (synthetic auxins)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Biosecurity duty
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 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. |
| All of NSW |
Prohibited Matter
A person who deals with prohibited matter or a carrier of prohibited matter is guilty of an offence. A person who becomes aware of or suspects the presence of prohibited matter must immediately notify the Department of Primary Industries |
For technical advice and assistance with identification please contact your local council weeds officer.
For further information call the NSW DPI Biosecurity Helpline on 1800 680 244 or send an email to weeds@dpi.nsw.gov.au
For further information call the NSW DPI Biosecurity Helpline on 1800 680 244 or send an email to weeds@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Reviewed 2017
