Report sightings of Spanish Heath
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Published on 19 February 2021
If you live in the municipalities of Devonport, Central Coast, Burnie, Waratah-Wynyard or Circular Head, Cradle Coast NRM would love your help in mapping local infestations of Spanish Heath (Erica lusitanica).
Please note the location of the weed (either GPS location or accurate description of municipality, road name and location on it) Note the extent of the infestation (single plant or area of infestation and % cover of that area).Please report known locations of Spanish Heath across the coast to Sonya Stallbaum at Central Coast Council [email protected]
For any local Burnie specific cases please email [email protected]
What is Spanish Heath?Spanish Heath (Erica lusitanica) is an invasive and extremely combustible weed growing along nature strips, open areas and disturbed ground. It is a small to medium sized evergreen woody shrub which can grow up to 2.5 m tall in suitable conditions. Leaves are small, fine and pine like, 4-7 mm long. Young stems have unbranched hairs 1 mm long.
It usually grows as a dense multi-stemmed bush, however inappropriate slashing can thicken it up so that can becomes more hedge-like. It can even grow and flower as a prostrate plant in response to slashing. Each plant can produce millions of small seeds which can be dispersed by wind, water, animals, slashing equipment and farm machinery, vehicle tyres or shoes.
Central Coast Council, in conjunction with Devonport City Council, Burnie City Council, Waratah-Wynyard Council and Circular Head Council, has been successful in receiving a small grant from the Tasmanian Government's $5 million Weeds Action Fund. The project will map Spanish Heath across these five north-west council areas, with the intent of following up with strategic on-ground weed control.
NRM staff at these Councils would appreciate support from the community in identifying known Spanish Heath locations within these municipalities as a first step before systematic mapping begins.