Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum), a familiar house plant that spreads adventitiously in urban environments and natural areas when irresponsibly discarded. Originating in tropical and southern … Read the full post
Coastal Galenia, Blanket Weed, Carpet Weed (Galenia pubescens)
Coastal Galenia, Blanket Weed, Carpet Weed (Galenia pubescens). A South African blanketing groundcover, this relative of native and non-native pig faces and ice plants in … Read the full post
Purple-top (Verbena bonariensis)
Purple-top (Verbena bonariensis), specifically the variety V. bonariensis var. bonariesis. The other is var. conglomerata, which this channel covered earlier in the season. As noted … Read the full post
Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola)
Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola), direct progenitor of garden lettuce and ubiquitous feature of disturbed, paved and wasted landscapes. The growth cycle of Prickly Lettuce is … Read the full post
Artichoke Thistle (Cynara cardunculus)
Artichoke Thistle (Cynara cardunculus), a signature of landowner neglect throughout the basalt clay of Melbourne’s north and west peripheral. This Mediterranean plant was listed as … Read the full post
Heartleaf Iceplant (Aptenia cordifolia)
Heartleaf Iceplant (Aptenia cordifolia), a South African relative of Australia’s native pigfaces. Marketed by Melbourne nurseries since at least 1876 (thanks G. Brunning), this species … Read the full post
Chinese or Ladder Brake (Pteris vittata)
Chinese or Ladder Brake (Pteris vittata), a pantropical fern and a very strange find on the north-facing brick fence to a Richmond home. Chinese Brake … Read the full post
Nodding Saltbush (Einadia nutans ssp. nutans)
Nodding Saltbush (Einadia nutans ssp. nutans), an indigenous Australian specialist of rocky and otherwise obstructed environments, and a surprising urban colonist. There is a repeated … Read the full post
Sandspurry (Spergularia rubra)
Sandspurry (Spergularia rubra), a European annual that made the jump to cosmopolitan weed status in North America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. This cryptic microgreen … Read the full post
Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris)
Bladder Campion (Silene vulgaris), in alkaline coastal scrub along the back beach of the Mornington Peninsula. A European perennial flower and occasional harvested cooking green, … Read the full post
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
Chicory (Cichorium intybus), perhaps more familiar today in cultivated forms as the edible greens Endive and Radicchio, but a historically significant coffee substitute or adulterant. … Read the full post
Mexican Fleabane, Seaside Daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus)
Mexican Fleabane, Seaside Daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus). Infinitely spreading, this is a favoured Melbourne fence and border floss, but also a covert weed that has made … Read the full post
Cat’s Ear or Flatweed (Hypochaeris radicata)
Cat’s Ear or Flatweed (Hypochaeris radicata), a globalised temperate zone weed from Europe, and among the most prevalent weeds of Southeastern Australia. Superficially similar to … Read the full post
Common or Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)
Common or Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), a Eurasian morning glory and a persistent weed of cereal crops and urban waste grounds. Also comes more strongly … Read the full post
African boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum)
African boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) in all its dread angles, a declared weed of national significance. A nightshade native to the Cape provinces of South Africa, … Read the full post
Purple-top, or Argentine, Tall or Wild Vervain (Verbena bonariensis var. conglomerata)
Purple-top, or Argentine, Tall or Wild Vervain (Verbena bonariensis), an infamous presence in the lowland pastures of NSW and QLD from the 1850s or earlier, … 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
Bear’s Breeches, Oyster Plant (Acanthus mollis)
Bear’s Breeches, Oyster Plant (Acanthus mollis), saccharine ancestral totem of the Victorian garden, and another adventive discard that successfully makes its own way in the … Read the full post
Pinwheel Aeonium (Aeonium haworthii)
Pinwheel Aeonium (Aeonium haworthii), forming a remarkable patch of aerial succulent garden over the Merri Creek. Aeonium is a Canary Islands native, and formerly enjoyed … 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
Flax-leaf Fleabane (Erigeron bonariensis)
Flax-leaf Fleabane (Erigeron bonariensis), a South American colonist of paddocks and grain fields, and a persistent exploiter of pavement cracks and lightly trafficked waste grounds … Read the full post
Purple Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius)
Purple Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius), a taproot-forming biennial flower from Europe, and an occasional casual food crop that like so many others became a weed in … Read the full post
Smooth Cat’s-ear (Hypochaeris glabra)
Smooth Cat’s-ear (Hypochaeris glabra), with hoverfly. Reported in Tasmania from 1844, SA from 1847, and Victoria from 1867 when it showed up in the Midlands … Read the full post
Slender Vervain (Verbena rigida)
Slender Vervain (Verbena rigida) on the cusp of weediness at Boroondara (Kew) General Cemetery. Verbana rigida was an early introduction to Victoria as a popular … 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
Coastal Gazania (Gazania rigens)
Coastal Gazania (Gazania rigens), a major component of Melbourne’s fluorescent coast although it is the less extensively established of Victoria’s two weed Gazanias. Native to … Read the full post
Cape Fig or Sour Fig (Carpobrotus edulis)
Cape Fig or Sour Fig (Carpobrotus edulis), part of the palette of the metropolitan’s fluorescent coast, and another South African import that has transformed urban … Read the full post
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), growing beneath an overhanging structure, at the boundary wall of the ground floor car park of a multi-unit residential building constructed c. … Read the full post
Dew Flower (Drosanthemum candens)
Dew Flower (Drosanthemum candens) seen here in a coastal setting. Even though it was past its flowering peak, this incredible colony behind a lifesaving station … 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