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Service Notice

The Western Australian Herbarium’s collections management system, WAHerb, and DBCA’s flora taxonomic names application, WACensus, have been set to read-only mode since 1 October 2025. Recent taxonomic changes are not currently being reflected in Florabase, herbarium collections, or the census. Due to the rapidly approaching holiday season and associated agency and facility soft closures, along with the substantial work involved in data mapping, cleaning, and verification, the migration to the new collection management software is not expected to occur before 1 March 2026, when a further update will be provided. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.

The notice period started at 9:45 am on Friday, 12 December 2025 +08:00 and will end at 12:00 pm on Monday, 2 March 2026 +08:00.

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Erica baccans L.

Reference
Mant.Pl. 233 (1771)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Alien to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Slender,erect, woody shrub, to 1 m high. Fl. pink, Aug to Oct. Lateritic gravelly soils. Disturbed sites, hills, Jarrah woodland.

Amanda Spooner, Descriptive Catalogue, 29 September 1999

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Jarrah Forest, Warren.
IBRA Subregions
Southern Jarrah Forest, Warren.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Albany, Manjimup.

Management Notes (for the Swan NRM Region)

General Biology. Growth form. Shrub. Reproduction. Seed. Dispersal. Wind, water, garden refuse. Time to first flowering. 3+ years. Vegetative regeneration strategy. Resprouts from base. Seedbank persistence. Medium, 1-5 years. Fire response. Fire can destroy seed in surface soil however seed deeper in the soil profile will germinate prolifically.

Notes. Increasingly invasive in native heathland in Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia.

Additional information. Origin. South Africa. History of use/introduction. Garden escape.

Suggested method of management and control. Hand pull or dig out small plants ensuring removal of all roots. Cut and paint with 20% glyphosate. Slash prior to seed set, spray regrowth within one year using 1% glyphosate. Regrowth is common so follow up treatment will be required. Read the manufacturers' labels and material safety data sheets before using herbicides. For further information consult the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to determine the status of permits for your situation or state.

Management Calendar

Calendar Type Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Comments
Flowering               Y Y Y      
Fruiting                   Y Y Y  
Optimum Treatment     Y Y Y Y Y Y          

Legend: Y = Yes, regularly, O = Occasionally, U = Uncertain, referred by others but not confirmed.

 

References

  • Brown, K. & Brooks, K. (2002) Bushland Weeds: A Practical Guide to their Management. Environmental Weeds Action Network, Greenwood.
  • Holmes, P.M. & Newton, R.J. (2004) Patterns of seed persistence in South African fynbos. Plant Ecology, 172 (1): 143-158.
  • Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Dodd, J., Lloyd, S.G. & Cousens, R.D. (2007) Western Weeds. A guide to the weeds of Western Australia. 2nd Edition. The Plant Protection Society of Western Australia, Victoria Park.
  • Muyt, A. (2001) Bush invaders of South-East Australia: A guide to the identification and control of environmental weeds found in South-East Australia. R.G. & F.J. Richardson, Melbourne.