Weeds of Australia - Fact Sheet

Top Scientific Name Family Common Names Origin Naturalised Distribution Notes

Scientific Name

Plectranthus ciliatus E. Mey.

Family

Labiatae (South Australia)
Lamiaceae (Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia and the Northern Territory)

Common Names

African spur flower, candle plant, candlestick plant, plectranthus, purple-leaved plectranthus, speckled spur flower, spur flower

Origin

Native to south-eastern Africa (i.e. eastern South Africa).

Naturalised Distribution

Naturalised in some parts of eastern Australia (i.e. in the coastal districts of central New South Wales, in southern Victoria and in south-eastern Queensland). It is mainly found near the urban centres of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Notes

Purple-leaved plectranthus (Plectranthus ciliatus) is regarded as an environmental weed in Victoria and as a "sleeper weed" in other parts of eastern and southern Australia. This species was introduced as an ornamental and was first recorded as naturalised in New South Wales in 1972.

Purple-leaved plectranthus (Plectranthus ciliatus) is naturalised mainly in sandy soils, usually overlying sandstone, in the coastal districts of central New South Wales. It is frequently cultivated in the Sydney region and locally naturalised in native vegetation at Northbridge. It has also been recorded in conservation areas in New South Wales (e.g. Cooper Park in Woollahra Municipality Council and Jackson Park in Blue Mountains City Council).

In Victoria, this species was first recorded as naturalised at Lavers Hill in 1992. It is now much more widespread and is listed as a major environmental weed in Otway National Park, where a large infestation is present.

In New Zealand, where purple-leaved plectranthus (Plectranthus ciliatus) has been naturalised for a longer period of time, it is a more serious environmental weed. It is abundant throughout the North Island, but is much less common on the South Island. This species forms dense mats of vegetation along creeks, in forest margins, and in disturbed forests. Purple-leaved plectranthus (Plectranthus ciliatus) spreads rapidly to invade native bushland and has the capacity to deeply smother the forest floor, particularly along margins and in disturbed areas. It shades out seedlings and low-growing native species, eventually replacing them and preventing their establishment and growth. This can result in a change in the character of invaded areas.