Holly leaved senecio (Senecio glastifolius)

Holly leaved senecio is a stout perennial. It has spread through significant areas of native vegetation in WA.

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How does this weed affect you?

Holly leaved senecio is native to the Cape region of South Africa. It is uncertain when the plant was introduced into Australia, but it was first recognised as naturalised in 1986 in the Albany district of Western Australia. The plant is particularly invasive in open damp areas, and has the ability to dominate understorey vegetation in these conditions.

Where is it found?

In South Africa the natural range of holly leaved senecio is restricted to a narrow coastal strip of the eastern Cape. However, even in this area it has become a weed in disturbed sites and agricultural land. Holly leaved senecio has spread widely throughout New Zealand in the last 20 years, and shows continuing evidence of rapid spread. In Australia, holly leaved senecio now occurs throughout woodlands near Albany, Western Australia, and on the central coast of NSW, at Bundeena.

Maps and records

• Recorded presence of Holly leaved senecio during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2024)
  These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Officers record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Records reflect the presence of the weed on the date of inspection.
  
  

How does it spread?

The flowers of holly leaved senecio are pollinated by bees. It reproduces from cuttings, fallen branches and wind-dispersed seed. While the primary mechanism of spread is seed dispersal, it is able to take root from fallen branches. Wind dispersal of the seed allows it to spread some distance from the original infestation, and seeds may remain viable in the soil for extended periods of time.

Germination of holly leaved senecio seed is encouraged by fire. The occurrence of fire followed by good rains has proved to substantially promote its spread throughout its current range in Western Australia. It is believed that slashing fire breaks or disturbing the soil in the vicinity of the plant or its seedbank also assists the spread of seeds.

What does it look like?

Holly leaved senecio is a member of the daisy family. It is a stout medium-lived perennial (sometimes annual) with stems 1.0–1.5 m, occasionally to 2 m, tall.

The stems, which may branch in older plants, can be 80 mm in diameter at the base of large plants. All stems produce flowers on widely spaced branches.

The leaf’s length is approximately 1.5 times its width and it is widest just above the leaf centre. Leaves are serrated and often coarsely toothed near the leaf stalk, which can make them rather prickly to touch. The leaves are 100–150 mm long at the base of the plants, decreasing to 30–50 mm near the top of the stems, where they are less serrate. The leaves are a distinctive feature of the holly leaved senecio and make it relatively easy to identify, even when young. 

The flowers of holly leaved senecio can range from two to three per plant to several hundred. They are actually combined inflorescences, which are many tiny flowers situated in the central part of the composite flower. The inflorescences have supplementary bracts (a modified tiny leaf around the flower like a bud) 3.0–5.5 mm long, are yellow in the centre, and are surrounded by mauve petals, making the holly leaved senecio an eye-catching plant. 

The developing seed heads (derived from the inflorescences) turn into white fluffy balls by the time the seed has formed and ripened. In warm and wet conditions holly leaved senecio will germinate within two weeks. 

Holly leaved senecio can be confused with wild cineraria (Senecio elegans) at a distance, but up close the two plants are quite different. Wild cineraria is a much softer looking plant, with more succulent and hairy leaves and stems than holly leaved senecio. Wild cineraria is also an annual plant. 

What type of environment does it grow in?

It occurs naturally in shrubland and near waterways and more often in open, wet areas in its native habitat. It grows frequently on hillsides, coastal dunes and disturbed areas such as roadsides.

Acknowledgements

CRC for Australian Weed Management: Leisl van der Wall (Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden, South Africa), Karin Baker (Friends of Mt Adelaide and Mt Clarence Nature Reserve), Sandy Lloyd (WA Agriculture / Weeds CRC), Rod Randall (WA Agriculture / Weeds CRC).

More information

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Control

By hand

Pull or dig out plants. Remove all plant material from the site and dispose of it. Contact your local council for advice on how to dispose of this plant.

Chemical control

Spraying

Spot spraying

Spray actively growing plants. Cover all of the foliage with the herbicide mixture.

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 can better target the chemical and minimise damage to other species.

Herbicide options

See Using herbicides for more information.

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
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

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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

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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

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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

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
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

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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

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
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

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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 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.
Greater Sydney	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
South East	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Prevention) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. Notify local control authority if found.
	*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here

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Reviewed 2023