Alternative Names. Bridal Creeper, Florists' Smilax.
General Biology. Growth form. Geophyte. Life
form. Perennial rhizome/tuber. Reproduction. Primarily seed,
occasionally rhizome/tubers. Dispersal. Birds, foxes, rabbits, water,
soil, machinery, garden refuse. Time to first flowering. 2-3 years.
Seedbank persistence. 2-3 years if buried. Fire response.
Generally survives fire.
Notes. Biocontrol agents include a leafhopper, a rust fungus
and a leaf beetle. Extremely invasive, smothers vegetation, forms monocultures,
increases fire risk during summer die-off phase.
Additional information. Origin. South Africa.
History of use/introduction. Garden escape. First recorded in
Australia in 1857 and by 1870s was a common garden plant.
Suggested method of management and control. Spray 0.2 g
metsulfuron methyl + Pulse® in 15 L water (or 2.5 - 5g /ha + Pulse®). Best
results achieved when flowering. Biological control agents available. Read the
manufacturers' labels and material safety data sheets before using herbicides.
For further information consult the Australian Pesticides and
Veterinary Medicines Authority to determine the status of permits for your
situation or state.
Management Calendar
Calendar Type |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Comments |
Dormant |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
Y |
|
Active Growth |
|
O |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
O |
|
|
Flowering |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
|
Germination |
|
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
|
Optimum Treatment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
Legend: Y = Yes, regularly,
O = Occasionally, U =
Uncertain, referred by others but not confirmed.
References
- Brown, K. & Brooks, K. (2002) Bushland Weeds: A Practical Guide to
their Management. Environmental Weeds Action Network, Greenwood.
- Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Dodd, J., Lloyd, S.G. & Cousens, R.D.
(2007) Western Weeds. A guide to the weeds of Western Australia. 2nd
Edition. The Plant Protection Society of Western Australia, Victoria Park.
- Moore, C.B. & Moore, J.H. (2002) Herbiguide, the pesticide expert on
a disk. Herbiguide, PO Box 44 Albany, Western Australia, 6330.
- Pritchard, G.H. (2002) Evaluation of herbicides for the control of the
environmental weed bridal creeper. Plant Protection Quarterly,
17 (1): 17-27.
- Raymond, K. (1996) The ecology of bridal creeper in south-eastern Australia.
In Proceedings of the Bridal Creeper Symposium (eds. J.P. Pigott, D.L.
Lamont & G.J. Keighery). Plant Protection Quarterly,
11 (2): 47.
- Stansbury, C.D. (1999) The invasiveness and biogeographical limits of the
environmental weeds Bridal Creeper, Asparagus asparagoides, and Bridal
Veil, A. declinatus, in south-western Australia. Ph.D Thesis,
University of Western Australia, Perth.
- Stansbury, C.D. (2001) Dispersal of the environmental weed Bridal Creeper,
Asparagus asparagoides, by Silvereyes, Zosterops lateralis, in
south-western Australia. Emu, 101: 39-45.
- The National Asparagus Weeds Committee (2006) Asparagus Weeds; Best
Practice Management Manual. Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity
Conservation, Government of South Australia URL: http://www.weeds.org.au/WoNS/bridalcreeper/
- Accessed June 2008.
- Turner, P. J. & Virtue, J. G. (2009) Ten year post-fire response of a
native ecosystem in the presence of high or low densities of the invasive weed,
Asparagus asparagoides. Plant Protection Quarterly, 24
(1): 20-26.
- Turner, P.J., Scott. J. K. & Spafford, H. (2008) The ecological barriers
to the recovery of bridal creeper (Asparagus asparagoides (L.) Druce)
infested sites: Impacts on vegetation and the potential increase in other exotic
species. Austral Ecology, 33 (6): 713-722.
- Willis, A.J. (2000) Best practice management guide, Bridal creeper,
Asparagus asparagoides. CRC for Weed Management Systems, Canberra.
URL: http://www.weedscrc.org.au/documents/bridal_creeper.pdf
- Accessed December 2007.