Bridal Creeper
Bridal creeper is a declared weed due to it’s highly invasive nature and ability to spread into different ecosystems. Like many weeds it was introduced into Australia as an ornamental garden plant, with pretty white flowers.
Bridal creeper creates an extensive underground root mat. When left to mature a bridal creeper infestation can have a root mat that is almost impossible to remove without heavy duty machinery.
Bridal creeper rust was introduced into Australia in 2000 as a biocontrol to help control bridal creeper and reduce its ability to spread. The rust infects the weed's leaves and stems reducing the plants availability to grow and reproduce.
Bridal creeper rust becomes active in autumn, becoming prolific over winter and into spring where it causes bridal creeper leaves to go yellow and fall off. The rust can be easily collected and landholders can help it to spread.
Below are written and video instructions showing how easy it is to collect and spread bridal creeper rust to healthy plants.
HOW TO MAKE BRIDAL CREEPER RUST SOLUTION
The PHBG team has created a short video to show how simple and quick it can be to make a Bridal Creeper Rust Solution, to be used to spread rust from affected to healthy bridal creeper. Our friends at Leschenault Biosecurity Group have also created written instructions. Both are below for your use.
Our team is always keen to hear of any sightings of bridal creeper with bridal creeper rust on public land, if it is easily and safely accessible. Please let us know by emailing the location to weeds@phbg.org if you see bridal creeper with rust in public areas, so that we can share the location with others that may want to collect rust to spread on their own property.
Making Bridal Creeper Rust Solution.mov