How we manage weeds in NSW

NSW WeedWise provides a comprehensive guide to priority weed identification, profiles, biosecurity duties and control information.

Using the NSW Weed Risk Management system weeds are grouped in a way to determine the biosecurity risk and management objectives that are:

Weeds that create the highest level of risk are called priority weeds.

State priority weeds pose a risk to the entire state of NSW and include:

Prohibited weeds: which are considered the most serious biosecurity threat and are regulated as prohibited matter under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Programs are in place to prevent these weeds from becoming established.
Control Order: which means that if found these weeds must be immediately destroyed; ensure subsequent generations are destroyed; and ensure the land is kept free of the plant.
Biosecurity Zones: which means the weeds are regulated within specific zones if found within the zone these weeds must be eradicated where practicable, or as much of the weed destroyed as practicable, and any remaining weed suppressed.

Prohibited weeds

Common name	Scientific name
Anchored water hyacinth	Eichhornia azurea
Black knapweed (Meadow knapweed)	Centaurea x moncktonii
Bridal veil creeper	Asparagus declinatus
Broomrapes	Orobanche species (all species except the native O. cernua var. australiana and O. minor)
Eurasian water milfoil	Myriophyllum spicatum
Frogbit	Limnobium laevigatum
Gamba grass	Andropogon gayanus
Hawkweeds	Hieracium species (all species except Hieracium murorum) Pilosella spp. (all species)
Hydrocotyl	Hydrocotyle ranunculoides
Karoo acacia	Vachellia karroo
Kochia	Bassia scoparia (excluding subsp. trichophylla)
Koster’s curse	Clidemia hirta
Lagarosiphon	Lagarosiphon major
Mexican feather grass	Nassella tenuissima
Miconia	Miconia species
Mikania vine	Mikania micrantha
Mimosa	Mimosa pigra
Parthenium weed	Parthenium hysterophorus
Pond apple	Annona glabra
Prickly acacia	Vachellia nilotica
Rubber vine	Cryptostegia grandiflora
Siam weed	Chromolaena odorata
Spongeplant	Limnobium spongia
Spotted knapweed	Centaurea stoebe subsp. micranthos
Water caltrop	Trapa species
Water soldier	Stratiotes aloides
Witchweeds	Striga species (except the native S. parviflora)
Yellow burrhead	Limnocharis flava

Common name	Scientific name
Boneseed	Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. monilifera
Parkinsonia	Parkinsonia aculeata
Tropical soda apple	Solanum viarum

Common name	Scientific name
Alligator weed	Alternanthera philoxeroides
Bitou bush	Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. rotundata
Chinese violet	Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha
Water hyacinth	Eichhornia crassipes

Common name	Scientific name
African boxthorn	Lycium ferocissimum
Alligator weed	Alternanthera philoxeroides
Athel pine	Tamarix aphylla
Bellyache bush	Jatropha gossypiifolia
Bitou bush	Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. rotundata
Black willow	Salix nigra
Blackberry	Rubus fruticosus species aggregate
Boneseed	Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. monilifera
Bridal creeper	Asparagus asparagoides
Cabomba	Cabomba caroliniana
Cape broom	Genista monspessulana
Cat’s claw creeper	Dolichandra unguis-cati
Chilean needle grass	Nassella neesiana
Climbing asparagus	Asparagus africanus
Climbing asparagus fern	Asparagus plumosus
Fireweed	Senecio madagascariensis
Flax-leaf broom	Genista linifolia
Gorse	Ulex europaeus
Grey sallow	Salix cinerea
Ground asparagus	Asparagus aethiopicus
Hymenachne	Hymenachne amplexicaulis and hybrids
Lantana	Lantana camara
Madeira vine	Anredera cordifolia
Mesquite	Prosopis species
Parkinsonia	Parkinsonia aculeata
Parthenium weed	Parthenium hysterophorus
Prickly pears	Austrocylindropuntia species
Prickly pears	Cylindropuntia species
Prickly pears	Opuntia species (except for O. ficus indica)
Sagittaria	Sagittaria platyphylla
Salvinia	Salvinia molesta
Scotch broom	Cytisus scoparius subsp. scoparius
Serrated tussock	Nassella trichotoma
Silverleaf nightshade	Solanum elaeagnifolium
Snakefeather	Asparagus scandens
Water hyacinth	Eichhornia crassipes
Willows	Salix species

The strategies policies and procedures listed below guide the strategic management of weeds in NSW.