Have you heard of Cats Claw Creeper?
Visiting Anna Smith OBE Quota Park, Carindale to see the work BCC and B4C are doing to remove Cat Claw Creeper from Bulimba Creek
It's not an animal, it's a weed, that is an aggressive climber that can quickly smother and kill native vegetation.
I recently visited Anna Smith OBE Quota Park in Carindale where Brisbane City Council (BCC) and Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee (B4C) are currently removing the Cats Claw Creeper that is along Bulimba Creek. I secured funding to have these works completed and I look forward to continuing to support the team to help slowly bring Bulimba Creek back to it’s former glory.
Information about Cats Claw Creeper
It was originally introduced from tropical America as an ornamental plant, Cats Claw Creeper can quickly smother and kill native vegetation. It was declared a Weed of National Significance in Australia in 2012 due to its invasive nature and both environmental and economic impacts. Cats Claw Creeper spreads readily through various means: tubers, plant cuttings, and thousands of airborne seeds. It thrives along creek and riverbanks, as well as in valleys. Because it smothers and kills vegetation, it creates and exacerbates erosion leading to sedimentation in waterways.
How to Identify Cats Claw
Each leaf of the cat’s claw creeper has two leaflets with a three-clawed tendril growing between them.
The plant produces large, bright yellow bell-shaped flowers in spring.
Seed capsules are long, narrow and flat and contain many papery seeds. Seed pods are glossy green when young and darken to brown as they mature.
Where to look
Aside from growing and spreading through the catchments creek banks and natural areas, Cats Claw Creeper readily grows up exterior walls or houses and fences where it can cause irreversible and expensive damage.
How to Control Cats Claw
There are several methods which can be used to manage and irradiate any Cats Claw you identify on your property. Cats claw can be found spreading over the grounds layer amongst your lawn or within your garden bed, as well as climbing trees and structures within your property. Different methods of treatment based on where the weed is will ensure the best treatment success rate and wont cause harm to other plants in your garden. Regrowth will occur, additional treatments will eventually iradicate Cats Claw Creeper. If chemical management isn’t suitable for you, underground tubers can be manually removed and vines can be pulled down but will continue to grow.
Cats Claw Creeper
If you think you have Cats Claw Creeper or would like some assistance in checking your property for it, please get in contact with Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee (B4C) and ask for their assistance.
Bulimba Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee Inc
Phone: 07 3398 8003
Email: b4c@bulimbacreek.org.au
Website: https://bulimbacreek.org.au/
Address: Cnr Wright Street & Old Cleveland Road, Carindale 4152
