Weed Identification: Polygala

The first weed we are going to learn how to identify and manage for Weed ID Wednesday is Polygala (Polygala myrtifolia). Polygala is one of the most dominant weeds on the Mornington Peninsula, particular along the coastline & on the western tip of the peninsula. It is an invasive weed that forms dense stands and outcompetes native vegetation, would you believe that despite this you can even buy Polygala from Bunnings! Originally from South Africa, Polygala is a shrub that grows to about two metres tall and can be identified by its purple flowers which are visible for most of the year, predominantly during spring and its alternate green leaves clustered on the outer branches

To manage Polygala, you can either cut the plant at the base as close to the soil as possible or manually pull the plant out roots and all. The seeds are long lived in the soil, so it generally requires follow up to completely eradicate. When removing any weed by hand it is important to attempt to cause minimal disturbance to the soil to reduce the spread of other weeds. If you have Polygala growing on your property and would like to remove it and plant an Indigenous alternative, we recommend Sea Box (Alyxia buxifolia) and Common Correa (Correa reflexa). The Shire Nurseries are a great place to buy Indigenous plants to fill your gardens with!