Fountain grass is a weed escaping the ‘burbs into national parks, reserves and coastal areas. Discover how it’s having a big impact on 3 of our native species and how you can help.
Following a milder than usual summer, fountain grass is taking off around Adelaide. It is an African plant that and was once widely planted in people’s backyards as a decorative grass. Unfortunately, its resilience and ability to spread quickly has caused big problems today.
This weed escapes gardens, washes down waterways and blows along roads to get into national parks, reserves and coastal areas.
Once it gets into these more natural areas, it can cause big problems for our native species. Discover 3 species under threat from this weed, and what you can do to help.
1. Chestnut-rumped heathwrens
Fountain grass is taking over areas the chestnut-rumped heathwren (Hylacola pyrrhopygia parkeri) would usually call home. The population of chestnut-rumped heathwrens is declining around Adelaide, and these birds are considered endangered.
This small, secretive wren can be hard to spot. It has a long, upright tail, is often brown to grey in colour, and has an off-white patch near its eye.
This little bird relies on an open heath habitat, meaning an environment with low-growing plants. This kind of habitat allows the chestnut-rumped heathwren to see if predators are approaching, but also gives them open space to search for food.
When fountain grass gets into an area like this, it forms in dense clusters, and can grow to be quite tall. This removes visibility for the chestnut-rumped heathwren, making the habitat unsuitable for the birds to live and forage in.
When fountain grass gets into an area like this, it forms in dense clusters, and can grow to be quite tall. This removes visibility for the chestnut-rumped heathwren, making the habitat unsuitable for the birds to live and forage in.
2. Narrow leaf fox-tails
Narrow leaf fox-tails (Ptilotus angustifolius) are a unique plant species to South Australia, and are under significant threat from fountain grass.
The species is part of a group of similar plants sometimes called mulla mullas, pussy-tails or fox-tails, all known for their impressive floral displays of masses of fluffy flowers, arranged in rounded spikes.
While this group of plants is found throughout Australia, a new South Australian species was recognised in 2018. This particular species, narrow leaf fox-tails, are unique to our state.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many of this South Australian species around, and threats from weeds such as fountain grass, means that the unique narrow leaf fox-tails are an endangered species.
Fountain grass grows up to 1 metre tall, so it shades out this endangered plant and its dense clusters steal fox-tails water and nutrients.
3. Cunningham’s skinks
Fountain grass is impacting on local populations of Cunningham’s skinks. These skinks are vulnerable in the Adelaide area.
They have a spiky and distinctive tail, can get quite big (around 150 mm even without their tail) and are grey-brown to olive-green, or brown to black in colour, and usually whitish below.
When fountain grass gets into the skink’s habitat, it out-competes the usual plants this skink would rely on for food, and creates too much shade, meaning these little guys don’t have places to bask and warm up.
Cunningham’s skinks love areas with deep rocky crevices or holes, which are often found on steep hills. Once fountain grass is established in these areas it is difficult and dangerous to control because the area is challenging to access.
The best approach is to stop it getting there in the first place.
How can you help?
You can help reduce the impact of fountain grass on native species by controlling this weed in your own garden.
When fountain grass is at a seedling or small plant stage, it can be removed by pulling it up by hand when the soil is moist. It can be placed in your household bin. Consider swapping it out for a native plant, such as lemon-scented grass, or check out more native grass options in our planting guide.
Chemical control can be effective, but often requires several treatments. Treatments should occur when fountain grass is actively growing, and ideally before flowering, which tends to be in spring. For advice on chemical options check out the information from our friends at PIRSA on controlling declared weeds in SA.
Want to know more?
We can all play a part in controlling weeds and lessening their impact. Removing fountain grass from your garden is a great first step in stopping the spread to our more natural areas.
You can learn more about fountain grass, or other weeds threatening our environment.