Cape ivy (Delairea odorata)
Cape ivy, a native of
southern Africa, was once widely grown as a garden ornamental. However, it is
now recognised as an environmental weed, especially along the east coast of
Australia. It is also a problem in NZ, Hawaii and the USA.
Cape ivy is a climbing vine
or creeping groundcover with slightly fleshy stems and leaves. The leaves
are bright green, somewhat fleshy, and lobed so that they resemble ivy leaves.
The stems are often purplish when young, and rather weak, eventually become
woody when mature. The small yellow flower-heads are borne in dense clusters in
the leaf forks or at the tips of the branches. Flowering occurs mainly during
winter and spring.
Cape ivy can be highly invasive and suppresses native vegetation by
carpeting the ground and climbing into the canopy. It prevents the growth and
regeneration of native species
Cape ivy is spread by seed and vegetatively. Seed is dispersed by wind
and water, and the stems can root at the nodes when in contact with soil
creating another plant. Also, Cape ivy is often spread by the dumping of garden
waste on bush land edges.
Hand weeding is the preferred method of removing Cape ivy. As it roots
at the nodes, all material should be placed in your red bin, or green bin if you have FOGO (food organics green organics). Control should be
undertaken before seeds have matured. Vines in trees can be cut and left to die
and disintegrate.
Grow Me Instead
Snake vine, Hibbertia scandens
This local vine has bright green leaves with large yellow flowers. This
is a vigorous climber or scrambler which grows to 2 to 5m wide or high
Wonga wonga vine, Pandorea pandorana
This is a vigorous Australian native twining plant. A number of selected
colour forms of this species have been brought into cultivation, the most
common is 'Snowbells' with pure white flowers and 'Golden Showers' with
yellow-bronze flowers.
Banksia rose Rosa banksiae ‘Lutea’
This climbing rose produces long slender twining canes with masses of
tiny, double, yellow flowers in spring.
