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Watsonia
Environmental Weed
Botanical name: Watsonia bulbillifera
Photo: Ku-ring-gai Council
Description
Native to South Africa, Watsonia is an erect herb to 2m high with globular corms. Invades roadsides, hind-dunes and bushlands. Dies back in late summer. Leaves basal, linear up to 60cm high. Red to salmon pink, trumpet shaped, flowering in spring.
4 - 10 bulbils are formed on lower spike.Plants which develop from bulbils to not flower ih the first year but form a corm which produces flowers in the second or third year. One to three 4-8cm corms are produced above and beside the old corm during the growing season.
Dispersal
Water and dumping.
Impact on bushland
Found in moist places. Serious problem in Perth and on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. Locally abundant on road sides.
Control
Manual: All corms need to be dug up and all bulbils removed.
See Manual Weed Control Techniques.
Chemical: Please contact your local control authority for advice on chemical control.
References
TAFE NSW