Spanish Moss Alert!
About Spanish Moss and the urgent need to remove it whenever it is identified.
Mosman Parks & Bushland Association wants to alert the community about a weed known as Spanish Moss (Tillandsia usneoides), which is becoming an increasingly serious problem on the North Shore. It is becoming prevalent on our street trees, on our garden trees, and is invading our bushland. It needs to be removed wherever and whenever it is identified. Environmental Groups on the North Shore, including Mosman Parks and Bushland Association, are trying to raise awareness about this weed. It has been identified in various parts of Mosman.
It could be on your property.
About Spanish Moss and what it does
Spanish Moss is an air plant (epiphytic) that grows and “hangs” on the trunks and branches of host trees. It is a silver-green colour and has fine leaves. It looks pretty and delicate as it hangs from host trees. Many gardeners and horticulturalists love it – just as they loved lantana when it was introduced into Australia as an ornamental plant - but it is actually a significant problem
Why is it such a problem?
It damages host trees and sometimes kills them by shading leaves and branches and impeding photosynthesis.
It is a particular threat to endangered plant communities, such as the Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest, which is listed as critically endangered.
Host trees include Brush Box, a common street tree in Mosman. Lilly Pillies, Cheese Trees, and Hoop Pines are other native hosts. Non-native trees are also susceptible – Jacarandas and Japanese Maples, for example.
As well as affecting plant communities, it alters habitat. The Grey-headed Flying-fox, for example, is thought to be particularly vulnerable.
It threatens the tree canopy. It grows at heights that cannot be reached easily, so it is difficult to remove.
Birds can spread it by using it as nesting material.
The climatic trend of increasing humidity and rainfall is favouring this plant, so infestations are spreading and becoming progressively denser.
What action is needed to deal with Spanish Moss if it is on or near your property?
Remove it from your garden. Please put it in the green bin.
Don’t give it to anyone.
Tell your friends and neighbours about it.
Report it to us (mosman.parks@gmail.com).
Download this information booklet (PDF) to read more about Spanish Moss.
Two further websites for reference:
https://www.step.org.au/index.php/campaigns/spanish-moss
mosshttps://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/weeds/SpanishMoss
Spanish Moss is going to be a difficult weed to control. We know from the current examples we remove from our bushland and gardens, that once established, removal becomes more difficult.
The sooner we take action, the better.
Yours sincerely,
Kate Eccles OAM
President Mosman Parks and Bushland Association
