Asparagus asparagoides

Common name: Bridal Creeper

Meaning of name:

Unknown.

Distribution:

Occurs throughout southern parts of Australia.

Description:

A climbing and sprawling plant with fragrant white and green flowers from August to September. Following flowering, it bears bright red berries that are up to 1 centimetre in diameter.

Notes:

Bridal Creeper is a declared plant meaning that landholders are required by law to control this plant on their land. This plant is one of the State’s worst environmental weeds. Biological control agents, a rust, Puccinia myrsiphylli, and a leafhopper, Zygina sp., released since 1999 are showing potential in reducing fruiting and dominance of this weed.

The plant is originally from South Africa and was introduced as an ornamental.

References:

Western Weeds, A Guide to the Weeds of Western Australia. BMJ Hussey, GJ Keighery, J Dodd, SG Lloyd, RD Cousens. 1997.

Flora of the Perth Region. NG Marchant, JR Wheeler, BL Rye, EM Bennett, NS Lander, TD Macfarlane. 1987.

Atlas of Living Australia https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2895458

Florabase https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/8779