About the Catchment Area

Pest Plants - Phalaris

Appearance
Phalaris has metre high robust stems and tough, hairless, flat bladed leaves between 15 and 40cm long.

Flowers are compact, tapered and cylindrical at the top of each stem. The head is green and turns straw colour when the seeds ripen.
Roots are fibrous and long lived, often occuring as a dense mat with a short creeping underground stem (or rhizome).

Where does it grow?
Phalaris is native to the Mediterranean region. It is used as a pasture grass and so is commonly present in pasture. It is also common along road sides.
Phalaris spreads on clothes and fur, by wind and water, and by animals which eat the seed.
Phalaris flowers between November and January. Stems and leaves will die off in summer, leaving roots to resprout the following season.

What’s wrong with it?
Phalaris grows in thick tussocks and can form dense stands that will completely crowd out other species.

Getting rid of it
Young plants are best pulled before they can form rhizomes or drop seed. After removing scattered plants, spot spray clumps using Roundup Biactive ® or WeedMaster Duo ®, working from least affected areas to the worst affected areas.

Pictures and text reproduced with the permission of Trees For Life