Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera), a stone fruit native to the Balkans and to Western Asia, adopted and selected for its ornamental qualities (as well as … Read the full post
Geraldton Carnation Weed (Euphorbia terracina)
Geraldton Carnation Weed (Euphorbia terracina), a Mediterranean perennial established across southern Australia as a weed of pasture, roadsides and bushland. Also called False Caper Spurge … Read the full post
Oval Heron’s-bill (Erodium malacoides)
Oval Heron’s-bill (Erodium malacoides), a ‘mallow-leafed’ geranium native to the Mediterranean basin but spread to similar climates around the world as a contaminant of seed … Read the full post
Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill (Geranium molle)
Dove’s-foot Crane’s-bill (Geranium molle), a Eurasian annual introduced to 19th century Australia as a contaminant of grain and fodder seed. This geranium has been noted … Read the full post
Large-flower wood-sorrel (Oxalis purpurea)
Large-flower wood-sorrel (Oxalis purpurea), a South African perennial bulb adopted as a garden ornamental. Typically flowering a bright magenta as seen here, white and pale-pink … Read the full post
Large Mediterranean Spurge (Euphorbia characias)
Large Mediterranean Spurge (Euphorbia characias), another beloved Eurasian garden filler with gloriously alien inflorescences and caustic latex sap. Tolerant of drought and high salinity levels, … Read the full post
Cape Wattle (Paraserianthes lophantha)
Cape Wattle (Paraserianthes lophantha), a Western Australian relative of Acacia that has been distributed in European cultivation across the rest of the continent. Widely purported … Read the full post
Indian Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica)
Indian Hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica), a slow-growing, evergreen horticultural shrub from eastern Asia (and notably not from India). Tolerant of saline environments and disturbed soils, this … Read the full post
Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
Gorse (Ulex europaeus), brilliant with golden spangles, Western European nitrogen-fixer and destroyer of worlds. Furnishing a fresh fodder for stock (palatable once milled of its … Read the full post
Bowie’s wood-sorrel (Oxalis bowiei)
Bowie’s wood-sorrel (Oxalis bowiei), a South African species named for a long-dead Kew Gardens collector, and a covert and rarely collected weed of Melbourne and … Read the full post
Great Willow-herb (Epilobium hirsutum)
Great Willow-herb (Epilobium hirsutum), growing as a local infestation on the riparian edge of a pool on Skeleton Creek, just above where the Werribee railway … Read the full post
Soursob (Oxalis pes-caprae)
Soursob (Oxalis pes-caprae), blooming very early in a sheltered position at the Werribee River crossing of the Main Outfall Sewer. This alien wood sorrel poses … Read the full post
Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis)
Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis), revisited in environmental positions on Merri Creek and Kororoit Creek. This channel has already covered this East African species’ urban … Read the full post
Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium)
Squirting Cucumber (Ecballium elaterium), a Spanish-origin, pan-Mediterranean poisonous weed likely distributed to Australia with imports of Merino sheep. The plant is appropriately named—as a relative … Read the full post
Blue Passionflower (Passiflora caerulea)
Blue Passionflower (Passiflora caerulea), a Brazilian perennial vine and close relation to Passionfruit. Producing unpalatable (though edible) fruit, Blue Passionflower is a popular grafting choice … Read the full post
Balkan Spurge (Euphorbia oblongata)
Balkan Spurge (Euphorbia oblongata), a relatively common nursery distribution originating in Greece, which has naturalised in California, Britain and the low countries, and here in … Read the full post
Spotted Spurge (Euphorbia maculata)
Spotted Spurge (Euphorbia maculata), a North American spurge (also known as ‘Eyebane’) that is a pioneer species and common lawn weed in its native setting, … Read the full post
Great Willow-herb (Epilobium hirsutum)
Great Willow-herb (Epilobium hirsutum), the spontaneous offering of a rootbound tree-cut in the footpath of Nicholson Street, Fitzroy this weekend. Great Willow-herb is native to … Read the full post
Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis)
Castor Oil Plant (Ricinus communis), a shrub or minor tree native to Eastern Africa. The species has been distributed throughout the global tropics and warm … Read the full post
Cut-leaf Crane’s-bill (Geranium dissectum)
Cut-leaf Crane’s-bill (Geranium dissectum), a Eurasian weed of disturbed lawns and cultivated sites. Introduced as a contaminant in seed or hay, this geranium arrived in … Read the full post
Fishtail Woodsorrel (Oxalis latifolia)
Fishtail Woodsorrel (Oxalis latifolia), white-flowering form. Longtime subscribers know that this channel favours Victoria’s heavy complement of wood-sorrel species. Having previously featured the pink-flowering form … Read the full post
European Sea Rocket (Cakile maritima)
European Sea Rocket (Cakile maritima), a specialist of the coastal strand and a ballast weed delivered to Western Australia in the 1890s and to Victoria … Read the full post
Creeping wood-sorrel (Oxalis corniculata)
Creeping wood-sorrel (Oxalis corniculata), in its anthocyanin form (producing red foliage — the species also comes in green). Sometimes cultivated as an edible, lemony green, … Read the full post
Dolichos Pea (Dipogon lignosus)
Dolichos Pea (Dipogon lignosus), another plant brought from the Cape Colony that is now a permanent part of the landscape of Melbourne and Victoria. Sold … Read the full post
Red-flowered Mallow (Modiola caroliniana)
Red-flowered Mallow (Modiola caroliniana), a modest but pervasive colonist of damp and fertile sites of disturbance throughout Australia. This plant was ubiquitous in the vicinity … Read the full post
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima), growing in a novel and heavily sprayed weed ecology on the Jolimont railway embankments, alongside agaves, soursob and various weed grasses. … Read the full post
Tall Willowherb (Epilobium ciliatum)
Tall Willowherb (Epilobium ciliatum), in fact known variously as Tall, Slender, Glandular, Fringed, Hairy or Northern Willowherb. Although there are a number of indigenous Epilobiums … Read the full post
Pale wood-sorrel (Oxalis incarnata)
Pale wood-sorrel (Oxalis incarnata), making its second appearance on the channel this year to acknowledge its complete annexation of this Northcote residential yard. The house … Read the full post
Sourgrass or Pink-sorrel (Oxalis articulata)
Sourgrass or Pink-sorrel (Oxalis articulata), a South American colonist brought to Victoria by 1855 (thanks J. and J. Rule, Richmond), recorded naturalised in NSW from … Read the full post
Dwarf Mallow (Malva neglecta)
Dwarf Mallow (Malva neglecta) in its tiny, shy glories. Originally from Europe and Western Asia, this prostrate or sprawling plant does about the same thing … Read the full post