Bitou bush and boneseed

Alert

Be on the lookout for bitou bush and boneseed and report any sightings within 24 hours.

Reporting options

Contact your local government.

Bitou bush flower

Bitou bush flower

© Queensland Government

Bitou bush in coastal dunes

Bitou bush in coastal dunes

© Queensland Government

Bitou bush infestation

Bitou bush infestation

© Queensland Government

Bitou bush leaves and flower

Bitou bush leaves and flower

© Queensland Government

Bitou bush plant form

Bitou bush plant form

© Queensland Government

Native to southern Africa, bitou bush is an attractive, bright green perennial shrub. It occurs in all Australian states and territories except the Northern Territory, and is the dominant vegetation along much of the New South Wales coastline. Bitou bush outcompetes and, in many cases, eliminates, native flora on coastal dunes.

Bitou bush was originally planted in New South Wales and parts of Queensland to revegetate coastal dunes following sand mining.

Boneseed is a close relative of bitou bush but is not yet present in Queensland. However,  it is a Weed of National Significance alongside bitou bush,  All reporting requirements for bitou bush  also apply to boneseed.

Scientific name

  • Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. rotundata, syn. Osteospermum moniliferum subsp. rotundata (bitou bush)
  • Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. monilifera, syn. Osteospermum moniliferum subsp. moniliferum (boneseed)

    • Description

    Bitou bush

    • Bitou bush is an attractive, bright green perennial shrub up to 5m high.
    • Flowers are yellow, chrysanthemum-like, up to 20mm in diameter, on short stalks and clustered on ends of branches.
    • Stems are much branched with woody upper stems, often purple.
    • Leaves are 20–80mm long, teardrop shaped, irregularly serrated on edges and practically hairless except for cottony down on young leaves. They grow on short stalks and alternate along stems.
    • Fruit is spherical with green fleshy skin that changes from brown to black on maturity.
    • Fruit has 1 seed, which is hard and bone-like in colour and texture when ripe.

    Bone seed

    • Boneseed is an erect shrub and very similar to bitou bush.
    • Leaves are less rounded and more teethed than bitou bush.
    • Flowers have 3–8 petals.
    • Seeds are bone-coloured.

    Habitat

    • Bitou bush and boneseed occur mainly in sandy coastline areas.

    Distribution

    • Bitou bush is found in the Wide Bay area; in isolated spots on Noosa headland; on North and South Stradbroke islands, Moreton Island and southern Moreton Bay islands; and scattered along the Gold Coast beach strip.
    • Visit Weeds Australia and click on the distribution tab to access the for bitou bush.

    Life cycle

    Bitou bush

    • Produces up to 50,000 seeds per plant per year.
    • Germinates at any time of year, particularly after good rain.
    • Flowers intermittently, but mainly May–July.
    • Seeds remain viable for at least 2 years.
    • Plants flower within 6 months of germination.

    Bone seed

    • Reproduces mainly by seed.
    • Seeds form a persistent soil seed bank.
    • Germination occurs after rainfall or disturbance.
    • Flowers mainly from late winter to spring.

    Plants affected

    • Native coastal dune vegetation

    Animals affected

    • Native birds
    • Native animals

    Impacts

    Environmental

    • Bitou bush and boneseed outcompete and often eliminate native flora on coastal dunes.
    • They form dense green blankets, preventing native seedlings from growing.
    • They destroy habitats of many native birds and animals.

    How it is spread

    • Bitou bush and boneseed spread rapidly by birds eating fruit and passing seed.

    Prevention

    Control

    Before undertaking any preventative or control actions, contact us online, by phone or in person.

    Biological control

    • A nationally coordinated biological control program approved 9 agents for release for bitou bush.
    • Bitou tip moths (Comostolopsis germana) and bitou seed flies (Mesoclanis polana) are reputed to be having a significant impact on seed production and plant vigour in New South Wales.
    • Because infestations in Queensland are localised and relatively small, eradication is the aim and biological control is not an option.

    Legal requirements

    • Bitou bush and boneseed are category 2, 3, 4 and 5 restricted invasive plants under the Biosecurity Act 2014. You must not:
      • move them
      • keep them
      • give them away
      • sell them
      • release them into the environment.

      • If you do any of these, penalties may apply.

    • You must take all reasonable and practical measures that are under your control to minimise the biosecurity risks associated with dealing with bitou bush and boneseed. This is part of your general biosecurity obligation .
    • You must report any sightings within 24 hours using 1 of these methods:

      • Each local government must have a biosecurity plan that covers invasive plants in its area. This plan may include actions to be taken for bitou bush and boneseed. Some of these actions may be required under local laws. Contact your local government for more information.

    Further information