Galenia was originally planted for erosion control at mining sites. It is now a troublesome weed throughout southern Australia.
Drought and salt tolerant, galenia grows over and smothers existing vegetation by forming a thick dense mat. It invades coastal dunes, pastures, disturbed areas, lawns, roadsides and rocky outcrop vegetation. Galenia is known to produce nitrates that can be toxic to stock.
Bees that collect the nectar of galenia produce honey with such a disagreeable flavour that is unsaleable.
Native to South Africa. It has now naturalised in the USA, Spain and Chile.
Galenia is scattered throughout many sites in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. It is of particular concern through the Hunter Valley and Liverpool Plains regions of NSW.
In Victoria it is spreading throughout the outer western suburbs of Melbourne, stretching into the western districts and encroaching into conservation areas. In South Australia galenia is an environmental weed that is problematic along the west coast of the Eyre and York Peninsulas.
Galenia reproduces by seed. Most dispersal of seed occurs by wind, water, birds and livestock. Movement of contaminated soil by vehicles and equipment can also contribute to its spread.
A deep rooted perennial herb that flowers from late spring to early autumn.
A perennial creeping, herbaceous plant growing to about 60 cm high and 1–2 m wide.
Stems
Leaves
Flower
Fruit
Seed
Preferring a temperate climate of wet winters and long, dry summers, galenia will also grow in semi-arid and sub-tropical environments. Galenia thrives in a variety of soil types, ranging from stony, sandy and loams. It will quickly invade neglected areas, but will also encroach into pastures and relatively undisturbed environmental areas. It is a considerable threat to coastal dunes.
Written by Rachele Osmond
Reviewed by Rod Ensbey
Australia’s Virtual Herbarium (2007) Council Heads of Australian Herbaria (CHAH) Available at: http://avh.chah.org.au. Accessed August 2014.
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (2011) Coastal galenia: Galenia pubescens var. pubescens, Queensland Government. Accessed August 2014.
Department of the Environment (2011) Weeds in Australia: Galenia pubescens. Australian Government. www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/weeds/identification/index.html. Accessed August 2014.
Ensbey, R (2011) Noxious and environmental weed control handbook. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange. Available at http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/weeds/publications/noxious-enviro-weed-control
Hosking JR, Sainty GR, Jacobs SWL & Dellow JJ (in prep) The Australian WeedBOOK.
Small infestations and individual plants may be removed by hand pulling or digging out. Make sure to remove the large taproot, otherwise plants will regrow.
Removing large infestations can potentially leave significant areas of bare ground. Consider revegetating these areas following control.
Galenia is a difficult weed to control and will require consistent treatments, using a registered herbicide. Best applied using a foliar spray, when plants are actively growing, during spring and summer on fresh, new growth.
Always check controlled areas and re-treat as necessary.
See Using herbicides for more information.
Picloram 100 g/L + Triclopyr 300 g/L + Aminopyralid 8 g/L
(Grazon Extra®)
Rate: 500 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Fresh spring/summer growth. High volume spot spray, treat to visual wetness.
Withholding period: Where product is used to control woody weeds in pastures there is a restriction of 12 weeks for use of treated pastures for making hay and silage; using hay or other plant material for compost, mulch or mushroom substrate; or using animal waste from animals grazing on treated pastures for compost, mulching, or spreading on pasture/crops.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Picloram 100 g/L + Triclopyr 300 g/L + Aminopyralid 8 g/L
(Grazon Extra®)
Rate: 5 L/ha
Comments: Boom spray. Apply in 2000 L water /ha.
Withholding period: Where product is used to control woody weeds in pastures there is a restriction of 12 weeks for use of treated pastures for making hay and silage; using hay or other plant material for compost, mulch or mushroom substrate; or using animal waste from animals grazing on treated pastures for compost, mulching, or spreading on pasture/crops.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Triclopyr 300 g/L + Picloram 100 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 500 mL per 100 L of water
Comments: Fresh spring/summer growth. High volume spot spray, treat to visual wetness.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Triclopyr 300 g/L + Picloram 100 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 5 L/ha
Comments: Boom spray application
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
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. |
Hunter
An exclusion zone is established for all land in the region, except the core infestation which includes parts of: Lake Macquarie Local Government Area, Maitland Local Government Area, Muswellbrook Local Government Area, Newcastle Local Government Area, Singleton Local Government Area, Upper Hunter Local Government Area. |
Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Containment)
Entire Hunter Local Land Services region: Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Exclusion zone: Notify local control authority if found. 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. Core infestation: Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value. |
*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here |
Reviewed 2023