Check your property now for toxic fireweed

Sunshine Coast residents are being urged to check their properties for fireweed, a toxic and fast-spreading plant that ranks among Australia’s worst weeds.

Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) has been kept under control on the Sunshine Coast for over 30 years thanks to a partnership between the community, Council and Biosecurity Queensland.

But in recent years it has started to spread again, especially in new housing areas like Caloundra South, where it is appearing in contaminated turf.

A dangerous weed

Fireweed is toxic to some animals like cows and horses and can be deadly if enough is eaten.

It competes with native plants, harming our natural areas and ecosystems.

Fireweed is officially listed as a Weed of National Significance, meaning it’s one of the worst weeds in Australia.

Check your yard, especially grassy areas, and help protect our farms and environment.

How to spot Fireweed

Identifiers for fireweed include its:

• leaves – long, narrow, with jagged edges; grow one at a time along the stem
• flowers – bright yellow, daisy-like, about 2cm wide, usually with 13 petals
• height – between 10 and 60 cm tall
• seeds – white fluffy heads like dandelions; spread easily by wind.

Find more information on fireweed at the Queensland Government factsheet. 

What to do if you find fireweed

Pull it out by hand, wearing gloves to protect your skin.

Put the fireweed in a bag to prevent it spreading, then throw it in your general waste bin (red lid).

Do not put it in your compost or green waste bin.

After removing fireweed, keep checking your property – most seeds grow within two years, but some can stay hidden in the soil for more than 10 years.

Need help identifying potential fireweed?

Send a photo to [email protected].

If the plant is flowering, you can use your favourite weed identification app.