Australians urged to check their yards NOW as ‘dangerous’ plant rapidly spreads: ‘Remove immediately’

An ornamental plant that was once purposefully added and grown in Aussie gardens has now been declared a weed that should be urgently removed.

Spanish moss, a hanging plant native to tropical and subtropical America, has recently spread uncontrollably in parts of Australia, including Sydney.

Local Sydney councils and land care groups are now actively requesting that residents inspect their yards and remove any Spanish moss from their gardens.

Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides), known colloquially as ‘old man’s beard’ is a blue-grey slender plant that’s instantly recognisable for its chain-like stems and leaves, which hang and grow over live or dead plants.

The plant doesn’t have any roots, but its fluffy seeds and fragments are easily moved by wind, birds or even deliberately by people, which is how it spreads and grows in new areas.

Spanish moss particularly thrives in warm, humid environments.

Recent prolonged periods of heavy rainfall in Sydney has seen the decorative plant now rapidly spreading.

This sudden growth of Spanish moss has been deemed to be detrimental to native greenery as it overwhelms native plants.

The NSW WeedWise website, run by the Department of Primary Industries, now lists Spanish moss as a plant of concern.

The listing explains that Spanish moss poses a problem to the native ‘host plant’ that it hangs off.

The problem arises when the Spanish moss becomes so ‘thick’ that it ‘shades the leaves of the host tree’ – and potentially even ‘smothers’ it.

The proliferation of Spanish moss can also ‘damage’ the host tree by causing ‘branches [to] snap off’.

Accordingly, several local Sydney councils like Willoughby City Council and Lane Cove Council have recently advised residents to remove any existing Spanish moss from their gardens and refrain from purchasing or sharing the plant.

Spanish moss is already established in other parts of NSW, including the Lismore area and Lord Howe Island. It has also cropped up in parts of Queensland.

Despite being officially recognised as an environmental weed, Spanish moss is not yet regulated under Australian law.

According to the NSW WeedWise website listing, the simplest way to remove Spanish moss is ‘by hand’.

‘Spanish moss is easy to remove from the host plant though accessing plants may be difficult if they are growing in tall trees,’ the listing reads. ‘Plant material should be disposed of appropriately.’

For advice regarding using herbicides to remove the plant, the WeedWise site suggests contacting the local council.

The fast-spreading plant has already caught the attention of Aussie gardeners, with some even taking to Reddit to express their concerns.

A recent post shared under the ‘Gardening Australia’ thread noted that Spanish moss had been ‘invading bushland here in Sydney’. The original poster worried that if i he plant were ‘not controlled now [it] will eventually smother our forests, cutting off light and extirpating shrubs and groundcovers’.

Many of the responses to the Reddit thread urged any Aussies that see Spanish moss growing in public parks or nature reserves to report it to their local council and request for it to be removed.

Community based north shore environment group STEP INC are among those actively working with local councils to raise awareness of the environmental issues posed by Spanish moss.

A recent report posted on STEP INC’s website in April read: ‘The current regional strategic weed management plan for Greater Sydney is due for renewal in 2027’.

‘Unfortunately, Spanish Moss has a low priority in our local council areas.’

‘We hope that evidence and consideration of the impacts of Spanish Moss will lead to its banning from sale under the new plan.’

‘STEP and other local community groups are working with our local councils to raise awareness of this rapidly emerging problem.’