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Mist Flower
Environmental Weed
Botanical name: Ageratina riparia
Source: Adam Burrowes
Description
Mist Flower is closely related to Crofton Weed. Straggly perennial to 1m tall. Widespread but less common than Crofton Weed. Mostly in damp ground, disturbed areas, and creeklines.
Leaves lanceolate. White tubular flowers in flowerheads, flowering in summer. A mature plant can produce 10,000 to 100,000 seeds per year. Seeds are 2mm long, with tuft of fine white hairs
Dispersal
Seed is spread by wind and water.
Impact on bushland
Leachate from leaves and plant litter can have a harmful effect on other plants.
Control
Manual: Mist Flower is easy to pull out, provided the ground is moist. However, if the soil is boggy, the site will quickly become reinfested.
See Manual Weed Control Techniques.
Chemical: Please contact your local control authority for advice on chemical control.
Similar species
Crofton Weed (Ageratina adenophora) has an erect habit and trowel-shaped leaves.
Suggested alternatives
- Five-leaf Water Vine (Cissus hypoglauca)
- "Happy Wanderer" (Hardenbergia violacea)
- Wonga Wonga Vines (Pandorea species)
- Dusky Coral Pea (Kennedia rubicunda)
References
Making your Garden Bush Friendly, McLoughlin and Rawling
Burnum Burnum's Wild Things Around Sydney, Sainty Abell & Jacobs,
TAFE NSW