Weeds attack!

Spotlight on bitou

Bitou bush and its close relation, boneseed, are weeds of national significance. This means that they are high on the list of problem weeds.

Have you seen this plant?

Bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. rotundata)

Why is it a problem?

Wherever bitou grows the native vegetation declines. This happens especially when there has been a disturbance in the native vegetation. Bitou can live under many different conditions. This includes shade, areas that get a lot of salt spray (high salinity areas), high wind, drought, low nutrients and fire. It does not live in areas that have frosts or wet soils. It can produce up to 50 000 seeds in a year. Animals eat the fruit and spread the seeds in their droppings. Bitou flowers twice a year.

Life cycle of bitou bush


Drag and drop the features of bitou. When you complete the activity you will receive code word 7. Don’t forget to write down the code word in your code keeper.