Cape Ivy
Senecio angulatus
DESCRIPTION
This hairless scrambling perennial weed is similar to German Ivy (Delairea odorata formerly Senecio mikaniodes), but its leaves are thicker and less delicate than German Ivy.
Cape Ivy often forms a dense tangled vine or shrub, climbing as much as 5 metres.
The flowers are yellow and open in clusters of 4-50 flowerheads at the top of the stems. The florets can be 6-11mm long, with the disc being a yellow-orange colour.
The fleshy, leathery leaves are on a leaf stalk of about the same length and have 1-3 coarse serrations on each side but get smaller and less serrated the higher up the plant.
If not climbing Cape Ivy forms a dense mat that can smother pasture and prevent the establishment of seedling plants and natives.
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION
Cape Ivy is found in drier more open sites, often coastal or rocky areas, the edge of the bush other waste areas and home gardens.
Seeds are easily spread by the wind and both seed fragments and seeds get spread with moved or dumped soil or vegetation.
HERBICIDES TO CONTROL CAPE IVY
Regardless of which control method you use, Cape Ivy is best controlled when flowering but before the seeds are produced. When spraying it is better if you can cut the stems below waist height and then spray the actively growing plants (during spring and summer).
Spot Spraying or Boom Spraying Herbicides to Kill Cape Ivy Weed
- Granny Herbicide at 4.5g/L water (will damage over-sprayed adjacent grass)
- G-360 GLYPHOSATE at 10ml/L water (will damage over-sprayed adjacent grass)
- G-540 GLYPHOSATE at 6.7ml/L water (will damage over-sprayed adjacent grass)
- GrassMate at 60ml/10L water (grass friendly, but damages clover)
- Dicamba 500 Selcet 3ml/L + WHACK – 2,4-D 800 4g/L
- Dicamba 500 Select 3ml/L water (grass friendly, but damages clover)
- LawnMate – 12ml per 1L of water knapsack application. Grass friendly but may suppress or damage young fine turf. Apply only to turf at least 12 months old with actively growing weeds.
- In ALL cases when spraying add Superwetter at 10ml per 10litres of water.
Stump Swabbing or Cut’n’Paste Herbicide Control of Cape Ivy Weed
Stump Swabbing Weedkillers for Cape Ivy
- MSF600 at 5g/L water
- G-360 GLYPHOSATE at 100ml/L water
- G-540 GLYPHOSATE at 67ml/L water
- Granny Herbicide at 45g/L water
Cut’n’Paste Gel Herbicides for Cape Ivy
Apply 2-4mm gel/paste to the freshly cut stem
