Know Your Invasive Plant Species

This article looks at the black wattle, bloodberry and other plants that must be controlled or eradicated.

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Invasive alien plants are a serious environmental problem in South Africa. They destroy habitats, affect natural surface water runoff and groundwater recharge patterns, intensify flooding, and increase the risk and intensity of wildfires.

Black wattle (Acacia mearnsii [Fabaceae])

An evergreen tree growing to between 5m and 10m high, the black wattle has dark olive-green leaves covered with fine hairs. It bears pale yellow or cream flowers in large fragrant sprays that bloom from August to September. The fruit pods are dark brown with fine hairs.

Black wattle invades grasslands, displacing indigenous species and reducing grazing land for wild and domestic herbivores.

Invasive status: NEMBA Category 2. Widespread throughout the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN), Mpumalanga and Gauteng.