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the web of life in southern Africa

Declared weeds and invader plants in South Africa >

Herbaceous plants that are declared weeds or invaders in South Africa

Note: This section of Biodiversity Explorer on weeds and invaders is out-of-date, as the information has been superceded by more recent legislation and lists that fall under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity (NEMBA) Act. These documents can be downloaded here.

There are 44 species of herbaceous plants that are declared weeds or invaders in South Africa.

Species Type Cate-gory  

Achyranthes aspera (Burweed, Grootklits, Langklitskafblom)

Family: Amaranthaceae

 Weed 1  

Ageratina adenophora (Crofton weed, Eupatory, Sticky snakeroot, Catweed)

[= Eupatorium adenophorum]

Classification: Asteraceae > Eupatorieae > Ageratina

 Weed 1  

Ageratina riparia (Mistflower, Misblom)

[= Eupatorium riparium]

Classification: Asteraceae > Eupatorieae > Ageratina

 Weed 1  

Ageratum conyzoides (Invading ageratum)

Classification: Asteraceae > Eupatorieae > Ageratum

 Weed 1  

Ageratum houstonianum (Blue Weed, Mexican ageratum)

Classification: Asteraceae > Eupatorieae > Ageratum

Declared weed status excludes cultivars.

Weed 1

Alhagi maurorum (Camel thorn bush, Kameeldoringbos)

[= Alhagi camelorum]

Classification: Fabaceae > Papilionoideae

Occurs in localised dry areas of the Northern and Western Cape.

 Weed 1  

Anredera cordifolia (Madeira vine, Bridal wreath)

Classification: Basellaceae

Incorrectly referred to as Anredera baselloides in South Africa.

Weed 1  

Araujia sericifera (Moth catcher)

Classification: Apocynaceae > Asclepiadoideae

 Weed 1  

Argemone mexicana (Yellow-flowered Mexican poppy)

Classification: Papaveraceae

 Weed 1  

Argemone ochroleuca subsp. ochroleuca (White-flowered Mexican poppy)

[= Argemone subfusiformis]

Classification: Papaveraceae

 Weed 1  

Atriplex lindleyi subsp. inflata (Sponge-fruit saltbush, Blasiesoutbos)

Classification: Amaranthaceae > Chenopodioideae >  Atriplex

 Invader 3  

Campuloclinium macrocephalum (Pom pom weed, Pom-pom bossie)

[= Eupatorium macrocephalum]

Classification: Asteraceae > Eupatorieae

See 'Pompom weed' (ARC-PPRI site) for an excellent summary of the biology and status of this weed in South Africa.

Weed 1  

Canna indica (Indian shot, Indiese kanna)

Classification: Cannaceae

Declaration status excludes hybrid cultivars.

Weed 1  

Chromolaena odorata (Chromolaena, Triffid weed, Paraffienbos)

[= Eupatorium odoratum]

Classification: Asteraceae >  Eupatorieae

There is a biological control programme undertaken by the ARC-PPRI in South Africa, which is achieving some successes - see more.

 Weed 1  

Cirsium vulgare (Spear thistle, Scotch thistle, Speerdissel, Skotse dissel)

[= Cirsium lanceolatum]

Classification: Asteraceae > Cardueae > Cirsium

 Weed 1  

Convolvulus arvensis (Field bindweed, Wild morning-glory, Klimop)

Classification: Convolvulaceae > Convolvulus

 Weed 1  

Cuscuta campestris (Common dodder, Gewone dodder)

Classification: Convolvulaceae

 Weed 1  

Cuscuta suaveolens (Lucerne dodder, Luserndodder)

Classification: Convolvulaceae

 Weed 1  

Datura ferox (Large thorn apple, Grootstinkblaar)

Classification: Solanaceae > Datura

 Weed 1  

Datura innoxia (Downy thorn apple, Harige stinkblaar)

Classification: Solanaceae > Datura

 Weed 1  

Datura stramonium (Common thorn apple, Gewone stinkblaar)

Classification: Solanaceae > Datura

 Weed 1  

Echium plantagineum (Patterson’s curse, Pers echium)

[= Echium lycopsis]

Classification: Boraginaceae

 Weed 1  

Echium vulgare (Blue echium, Blou-echium)

Classification: Boraginaceae

 Weed 1  

Hedychium coccineum (Red ginger lily, Rooigemmerlelie)

Classification: Zingiberaceae

 Weed 1  

Hedychium coronarium (White ginger lily, Witgemmerlelie)

Classification: Zingiberaceae

 Weed 1  

Hedychium flavescens (Yellow ginger lily, Geelgemmerlelie)

Classification: Zingiberaceae

 Weed 1  

Hedychium gardnerianum (Kahili ginger lily, Kahiligemmerlelie)

Classification: Zingiberaceae

 Weed 1  

Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort, Tipton weed, Johanneskruid)

Classification: Hypericaceae > Hypericum

Can only be grown under controlled cultivation.

Invader 2  

Ipomoea alba (Moonflower, Maanblom)

Classification: Convolvulaceae > Ipomoea

Category 1 plant in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, Category 3 plant in the rest of South Africa.

Weed 1 or 3  

Ipomoea indica (Morning glory, Purperwinde)

[= Ipomoea congesta]

Classification: Convolvulaceae > Ipomoea

Category 1 plant in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, Category 3 plant in the rest of South Africa.

 Weed 1 or 3  

Ipomoea purpurea (Morning glory, Purperwinde)

Classification: Convolvulaceae > Ipomoea

 Invader 3

Lepidium draba (Pepper-cress, Hoary cardaria, White top, Peperbos)

[= Cardaria draba]

Classification: Brassicaceae

 Weed 1  

Lilium formosanum (St Joseph’s lily, Trumpet lily, Formosa lily, Sintjosefslelie, Trompetlelie)

[= Lilium longiflorum var. formosanum]

Classification: Liliaceae

Sometimes referred to in South Africa incorrectly as Lilium longiflorum.

Invader 3  

Lythrum salicaria (Purple loosestrife)

Classification: Lythraceae

 Weed 1  

Nephrolepis exaltata (Sword fern, Swaardvaring)

[= Polypodium exaltatum]

Classification: Monilophyta > Polypodiales

Declared status excludes cultivars.

Invader 3  

Nicotiana glauca (Wild tobacco, Wildetabak)

Classification: Solanaceae > Nicotians

 Weed 1  

Orobanche minor (Lesser broomrape, Clover broomrape, Klawerbesemraap, Bremraap)

Classification: Orobanchaceae

 Weed 1  

Parthenium hysterophorus (Parthenium)

Classification: Asteraceae > Heliantheae

 Weed 1  

Rivina humilis (Rivina, Bloodberry, Bloedbessie)

Classification: Phytolaccaceae

 Weed 1  

Sphagneticola trilobata (Singapore daisy, Singapoer-madeliefie)

[= Wedelia trilobata, Thelechitonia trilobata]

Classification: Asteraceae > Heliantheae

Category 1 in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Category 3 in the rest of South Africa.

 Weed 1 or 3  

Tithonia diversifolia (Mexican sunflower, Mexikaanse sonneblom)

Classification: Asteraceae >  Heliantheae > Tithonia

 Weed 1  

Tithonia rotundifolia (Red sunflower, Rooisonneblom)

Classification: Asteraceae >  Heliantheae > Tithonia

 Weed 1  

Xanthium spinosum (Spiny cocklebur, Boetebos)

Classification: Asteraceae >  Heliantheae > Xanthium

 Weed 1  

Xanthium strumarium (Large cocklebur, Kankerroos)

Classification: Asteraceae >  Heliantheae > Xanthium

 Weed 1