Boneseed: A bright yellow, but invasive, harbinger of spring

 

Mangawhai has the dubious honour of being one of the few places in Northland where boneseed (Chrysanthemoides monilifera) has established well. It just loves the dry cliffs, banks and sand dunes, crowding out the native species that should be there. The bright yellow prolific flowers, and its ability to withstand drought, made it a popular choice with the early bach owners in Mangawhai.

Boneseed gets its name from the very hard little round seeds it produces in profusion a little later in the season. These are distributed by gravity and sometimes animals such as rats and possibly birds. The young growth on boneseed has a downy white look as if a spider has been very busy in the tip of it. This distinguishes it from the very similar looking native, coastal mahoe (Melicytus novae-zelandiae).

If your garden has one of these invaders holding up its bright yellow ‘hands’ at the moment, you can dig it out or cut it very low to the ground and paint the stump with undiluted glyphosate, such as Roundup. You can pull or dig small plants all year round. Look for the little white ‘cobwebs’ in the centre of the tips.

When your property is clear of this pest, keep an eye out for seedlings and don’t let the invasion back. If your neighbour has some, have a friendly chat to them – over a beer or tea and scones is always good.

Weed Action can help with advice and herbicides for all your problem weeds. Email Sara on weedactionpb@gmail.com or phone 0220104092.