Black-eyed Susan spreading into bush land
Black-eyed Susan has been promoted by the nursery industry as a popular choice when a quick coverage is desired. The vine flowers for most of the year and cultivars are available in white and orange. If kept contained in a pot the risk to bushland is limited as the plant does not readily grow from seed. However, if allowed to spread from a garden into bushland or dumped with garden waste, it can very quickly outcompete native plants. Other members of the Thunbergia genus, such as Thunbergia grandiflora, are Category 3* weeds so the concern with the potential of Black-eyed Susan to become a biosecurity risk is considerable.
More information can be found on the following link;
black-eyed Susan | Weed Identification – Brisbane City Council
Some local native flowering vine species to bring colour to the garden;
Purple flowers; Hardenbergia violacea (anpsa.org.au) Pink flowers; Pandorea jasminoides | Australian Plants Society (austplants.com.au) Yellow flowers; Hibbertia scandens (anpsa.org.au)
*Category 3 is a classification under the Queensland government Biosecurity Act 2014. The act states that a person must not release these invasive plants into the environment, give away or sell as a plant or something infested with its seeds.
By Michelle Newall