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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.

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Centranthus macrosiphon Boiss.

Reference
Diagn.Pl.Orient. Ser. 1, Part 3:57 (1843)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Alien to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Erect annual, herb, (0.05-)0.1-0.4 m high. Fl. pink/pink-red/white, Aug to Nov. Grey sand over limestone. Disturbed areas.

Amanda Spooner, Descriptive Catalogue, 1 April 1997
Image

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain.
IBRA Subregions
Northern Jarrah Forest, Perth, Southern Jarrah Forest.
IMCRA Regions
Leeuwin-Naturaliste.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Busselton, Cambridge, Capel, Collie, Cottesloe, Harvey, Mandurah, Mundaring, Murray, Nedlands, Northam, Perth, Rockingham, South Perth, Stirling, Subiaco, Swan, Waroona.

Management Notes (for the Swan NRM Region)

Alternative Names. Spanish Valerian.

General Biology. Growth form. Herb. Life form. Annual. Dispersal. Soil movement, garden waste, possibly wind and water. Seedbank persistence. Short, days-1 year.

Notes. Flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female parts) and are pollinated by bees, moths & butterflies. Prefers calcareous soils and has naturalised on roadsides and in tuart woodland where it can spread rapidly into undisturbed understorey vegetation.

Additional information. Origin. Northern Africa, southwestern Europe. History of use/introduction. Ornamental.

Suggested method of management and control. Hand remove small populations. Spray metsulfuron methyl at 0.1 g/15 L (2 g/ha) + wetting agent OR Logran® at 12.5 g/100L + the penetrant Pulse ® is very effective on adults and juveniles with little offtarget damage in coastal heathlands. 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
Germination         Y Y Y            
Active Growth           Y Y Y Y Y O    
Flowering               Y Y Y Y    
Fruiting                 Y Y Y    
Manual Removal           Y Y Y Y Y      
Herbicide Treatment             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.
  • 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.
  • Plants for a Future (Undated) Centranthus macrosiphon - Boiss. URL: http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Centranthus+macrosiphon - Accessed April 2010.
  • Swarbrick, J.T. & Skarratt, D.B. (1994) The bushweed 2 database of environmental weeds in Australia. The University of Queensland, Gatton College.