La Trobe Study Flags Gazania Risk
A new study by La Trobe University researchers has raised fresh concerns about the Gazania Daisy invasive plant, which is commonly sold at Bunnings and other nurseries. The brightly coloured ornamental flower, native to South Africa, has been found spreading rapidly across southern Australia. Experts are urging a nationwide ban as the plant poses a serious threat to farmland, biodiversity, and native ecosystems.
According to research published in Frontiers in Agronomy, the plant thrives in almost any condition regardless of salinity, moisture or temperature. The researchers confirmed its spread from gardens into farmlands, grasslands, roadsides and irrigated areas.
Gazania Daisies
Impact on Grain Production Alarming
The study found gazania now invades grain crop fields in low-rainfall regions of South Australia. Farmers report difficulty controlling it with standard herbicides.
“Due to its flexible growth requirements, gazania is now widespread and naturalised in a variety of habitats including coastal sand dunes, stream banks, wastelands, open grasslands, along roadsides and on cultivated and irrigated sites,” the report stated.
“While gazania has long been considered as an environmental weed in Australia, a trend of ‘jumping the fence’ has been observed in recent years, infesting grain crop production fields in low-rainfall regions of South Australia. The presence of gazania in cropping fields is proving highly problematic, with farmers finding it difficult to control with common herbicides.”
Urgent Call for Long-Term Management
Researchers say the plant is “rapidly spreading” across the country and call for urgent national management strategies. They warn the species is now a direct threat to Australia’s agricultural systems and biodiversity.
South African Native Introduced Decades Ago
Gazania was introduced to Australia during the 1950s and 1970s. Since then, the species has become established in multiple states.
The Invasive Species Council’s advocacy manager Imogen Ebsworth urged immediate removal of gazania from sale. “Gazanias are the perfect example of an escaped invasive garden plant that needs to be banned from sale,” she said.
South Australia Has Already Banned Gazania
Gazanias are already banned in South Australia. However, the council wants a national approach. “They are already banned in South Australia, but it’s clear we need them pulled nationally,” Ebsworth said.
“I urge the nursery industry to act on this new evidence and stop selling it … we’ve seen this story unfold far too many times. Ornamental plants that turn into unstoppable weeds, costing us billions in control efforts and wiping out native species in the process.”
Gazania Daisies invasively growing
Imported Plants Unchecked for Risk
The council estimates more than 30,000 plant species have been introduced to Australia for gardening. Fewer than a quarter have been formally assessed for weed risk.
Weeds cost the country over $5 billion a year in agricultural and environmental damage. Escaped ornamental plants account for more than 70 per cent of Australia’s environmental weeds.
“An incredible three-quarters of all listed weeds started out as ornamentals,” Ebsworth said. “That’s not a Bunnings problem or a rogue nursery problem, it’s a regulatory failure. We are relying on everyday Australians to either have a botany degree or realise they need to research legally sold plants to find out if they are a weed.”
Garden Waste and Seed Spread Fuel the Invasion
Gazanias escape gardens via lawn clippings, seed dispersal and garden waste. This uncontrolled spread threatens both farmland and natural habitats.
Bunnings Responds to Regulation Debate
NewsWire confirmed that Bunnings continues to sell gazanias in stores across the country. Bunnings Warehouse director of merchandise Cam Rist said the company complies with relevant laws.
“Like many nurseries and retailers, we sell a wide range of locally-sourced plants across our stores and we work hard to create an assortment that caters to customer preferences and demand,” Rist said. “As always, we closely follow all relevant local biosecurity regulations and the advice of regulators about the plants we sell.”
Each Australian state and territory maintains its own declared weed lists and invasive species laws. Bunnings said its product range differs depending on these regional declarations.
Council Pushes for Federal Action
Ebsworth said relying on nursery self-regulation has failed. She called for national regulation to prevent invasive plant sales. “We’ve spent decades relying mainly on self-regulation, which just doesn’t work,” she said.
“You can still legally buy plants that are banned in neighbouring states or overseas. Unless governments act, we’ll keep selling the next lantana, the next gazania, straight into our backyards and bushland.”
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Federal Government Yet to Comment
The Invasive Species Council has requested urgent government intervention. Environment Minister Murray Watt has been contacted for comment.
Ongoing Monitoring Needed
Bunnings confirmed it would continue to monitor changes in declared weed status. The retailer advised customers to read plant labels carefully and follow biosecurity guidelines.
Bunnings stated it remains committed to following advice from biosecurity regulators and would update its offerings if regulations change.
