Asparagus Fern was by far the most common weed found on properties during the 2015 Great Lakes Council weed inspections in Hawks Nest.
Asparagus Fern was popular as a garden and pot plant due to its striking foliage and attractive red berries.
It is now a major problem in many areas of Australia.
Why is it a problem?
Birds dropping seeds in native bushland easily spreads Asparagus Fern. Once established it is capable of taking over native vegetation, reducing biodiversity values and destroying important fauna habitat.
Asparagus fern is a Weed of National Significance (WoNS), and one of the most problematic plant species in Australia as determined by the federal government.
Landowners have a legal responsibility to control and reduce its spread.
It is also a Class 4 Noxious Weed in the Great Lakes area requiring the weed to be managed by continuously inhibiting the ability of the plant to spread.
Asparagus Fern must not be sold, propagated or knowingly distributed.
How do you remove it?
Wearing thick gloves, remove any stems with ripe or unripe berries, and dispose in the red bin.
Then locate and remove the crown of the plant.
The crown is the woody growth where all the stems and roots grow from.
Removal is easily done with a serrated knife, cutting the crown away from the roots.
The roots and water-bearing tubers can be left in the ground, as it does not re-shoot.
The crown should be disposed of in the red bin.
Stems without berries can be put in the green waste bin or compost.
Great Lakes Council is working to remove Asparagus Fern from bushland in the Great Lakes Area. It also supports the Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens Bitou Busters in controlling Asparagus Fern and other noxious and environmental weeds.
Reference
Taken from the Weed Bulletin emails
Asparagus Fern was popular as a garden and pot plant due to its striking foliage and attractive red berries.
It is now a major problem in many areas of Australia.
Why is it a problem?
Birds dropping seeds in native bushland easily spreads Asparagus Fern. Once established it is capable of taking over native vegetation, reducing biodiversity values and destroying important fauna habitat.
Asparagus fern is a Weed of National Significance (WoNS), and one of the most problematic plant species in Australia as determined by the federal government.
Landowners have a legal responsibility to control and reduce its spread.
It is also a Class 4 Noxious Weed in the Great Lakes area requiring the weed to be managed by continuously inhibiting the ability of the plant to spread.
Asparagus Fern must not be sold, propagated or knowingly distributed.
How do you remove it?
Wearing thick gloves, remove any stems with ripe or unripe berries, and dispose in the red bin.
Then locate and remove the crown of the plant.
The crown is the woody growth where all the stems and roots grow from.
Removal is easily done with a serrated knife, cutting the crown away from the roots.
The roots and water-bearing tubers can be left in the ground, as it does not re-shoot.
The crown should be disposed of in the red bin.
Stems without berries can be put in the green waste bin or compost.
Great Lakes Council is working to remove Asparagus Fern from bushland in the Great Lakes Area. It also supports the Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens Bitou Busters in controlling Asparagus Fern and other noxious and environmental weeds.
Reference
Taken from the Weed Bulletin emails
Adrienne Ingram
April 2022
Sources
Weeds of Bushland & Reserves
MidCoast Council
April 2022
Sources
Weeds of Bushland & Reserves
MidCoast Council