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Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis)

A short-lived daisy that invades coastal and tableland pasture. It is toxic to cattle and horses and can produce thousands of wind-blown seeds per plant.

Key facts

Type: Weed, herb.

Native to: Southern Africa and Madagascar.

Established in: QLD, NSW.

Other names: Madagascar ragwort.

Best time to act: Treat seedlings from late autumn through winter, before flowering.

Identification

  • Bushy, branched herb usually 20 to 50 cm tall.
  • Narrow, bright green leaves with toothed edges.
  • Yellow daisy flowers about 2 cm across, usually with 13 petals.
  • Look-alike: Several native Senecio species look similar; flower and bract counts help separate them.

Where it grows

Pasture, roadsides and disturbed land in coastal and tableland districts.

Why it matters

  • Toxic alkaloids cause liver damage in cattle and horses.
  • Reduces pasture quality.

How it spreads

  • Wind-blown seeds.
  • Seed in hay, on vehicles and in livestock.

Control options

  • Hand pull and bag flowering plants in small infestations.
  • Competitive, well-managed pasture.
  • Registered herbicides on seedlings and young plants.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Bag flowering plants, as cut plants can still set seed.
  • Use fodder free of fireweed seed.
  • Inspect and clean vehicles, plant and footwear before leaving an infested area, paying attention to tyres, radiators, belly plates, tracks and floor mats.
  • Wash down at a designated bay where runoff is contained and can be monitored for seedlings.
  • Record each washdown so the client has evidence of clean entry and exit.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): Weed of National Significance. One of 32 nationally agreed priority weeds, managed through national strategies with all states and territories.
  • Queensland: Restricted matter, category 3. Do not give it away, sell or release it into the environment. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: Sale prohibited; Regional priority in 4 of 11 regions. It must not be imported into NSW or sold anywhere in the state. Regional priority weed in Central Tablelands, Central West, North West, Riverina. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Restricted weed. Where it is a restricted weed, trade in it (including the plant, its seed or contaminated material) is prohibited.
  • South Australia: Declared plant. Depending on the declaration, it can be an offence to move it on public roads or sell it, and landowners may be required to control it on their land.
  • Western Australia: Declared pest (C1), prohibited. C1 Exclusion: to be kept out of WA, or out of the parts of WA where it is not established. Report any sighting to DPIRD. It must not be brought into WA (prohibited organism).
  • Tasmania: Declared weed. Property managers are required by law to control declared weeds, and their import and sale are prohibited.
  • Northern Territory: Check NT list. There is no NT weed profile for it. Check the NT declared weeds list for its current status.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Declared pest, notifiable, prohibited. It is a declared pest throughout the ACT. You must report it to ACT Biosecurity. Dealing with it, such as selling, moving or keeping it, is prohibited.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

  • Queensland: Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld), administered by Biosecurity Queensland (13 25 23)
  • New South Wales: Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Sources