Boneseed like many other invasive weeds was first introduced into Aotearoa/New Zealand from South Africa as an ornamental species. Its bright yellow flowers and bushy foliage made it a popular choice to add a pop of colour to the kiwi backyard.

Unfortunately, boneseed ‘jumped the fence’ and rapidly began blending into coastal areas, creating dense cover and outcompeting native species. Boneseed is particularly flammable and can increase fire risk when populations begin to build.

We need your help to remove boneseed from your neighbourhood. Our biosecurity team has been controlling boneseed throughout Waitaha/Canterbury since 2002 and coastal communities have volunteered hours of their time pulling out these pesky plants.

If you find boneseed on your property, please remove it as soon as possible by hand pulling the seedlings and small plants or, cut larger plants at ground level and paint the stump with a glyphosate-based gel. Dispose of boneseed plants including seeds at Innovative Waste Kaikōura as seeds will not break down in a home composting system.

Check your property now as plants are easier to spot while they’re flowering between August – November. The flowers are bright yellow, and the leaves are leathery with a distinctive serrated edge. Boneseed can reach up to 3 metres in height and each plant can produce 50,000 seeds per year. 

If you have any questions about boneseed, contact us on 0800 324 636 or email biosecurity@ecan.govt.nz