Cape ivy
Botanical Name
Senecio angulatus
Family
Asteraceae (daisy)
Where is it originally from?
South Africa
What does it look like?
Scrambling perennial, often forming a dense tangled shrub (<2-3 m tall), with wiry to woody stems that are sparingly branched. Very fleshy, leathery leaves have 1-3 coarse serrations on each side, and the uppermost leaves are smaller, narrower and occasionally smooth edged. Dense clusters of yellow, ragwort-like flowers (11 mm diameter, Mar-Aug) are followed by fluffy seeds.
Are there any similar species?
German ivy (Senecio mikanioides) is similar, but its leaves are much thinner and more delicate.
Why is it weedy?
Produces many long-lived seeds that are dispersed a long way from parent plants. Moderate growth rate and layering stems, scrambles over shrubs and ground, forms dense, tall thickets. Tolerates salt, wind, drought, semi-shade and damage.
How does it spread?
Wind spreads the seed, and seed and fragments are spread in dumped vegetation and soil movement. Common sources include waste places, roadsides, bush edges and gardens.
What damage does it do?
Smothers ground and low-growing plants to 3 m tall, forming dense, long-lived mats that prevent the establishment of native plant seedlings.
Which habitats is it likely to invade?
Coastal, rocky areas, cliffs, bush edges, regenerating lowland forests and inshore islands.
What can I do to get rid of it?
Most easily controlled at flowering, when highly visible and before seed is produced.
1. Physical removal - Hand pull small plants, or dig out entire plant including roots (all year round): Dispose of at a refuse transfer station, burn, or bury deeply.
2. Cut and paste - Cut the stem/trunk as close to the ground as possible and cover the entire stump with herbicide as soon as possible after cutting. Apply either glyphosate gel (120g/L strength) or metsulfuron gel (10g/l strength) to the entire cut stem.
3. Foliar spray - Apply herbicide using a hand held sprayer/knapsack to plants <1m tall or gun and hose for larger infestations. Use the recommended adjuvant shown on the label.
Apply glyphosate (360 g/L active ingredient) herbicide at at rate of 10ml/L to cover entire plant. Note: Glyphosate overspray will kill other (desirable) plants.
OR apply metsulfuron herbicide (600g/kg active ingredient at 5g/10L knapsack or 20g/100L gun and hose) + label recommended adjuvant. Note: Metsulfuron overspray will kill other (desirable) broadleaf plants and has residual activity in the soil which aids in killing below ground parts.
CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide, PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and directions for the purchase, use and storage of the product, are followed and adhered to.
What can I do to stop it coming back?
Cut stumps and dropped stems resprout. Bared areas reseed.
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