Bear's breeches

General description

Perennial herb < 120 cm tall. Roots are thick. Leaves are large, multi-lobed, shiny and borne on < 50 cm petioles from the root crown or < 2 cm petioles from the stem.

Flowers are white with pink/purple/brown veins and borne on a central spike in October-April. Seed capsules are 3-4 cm long, beaked and contain one flattened seed.

What you need to know

Although bear’s breeches is not a legally declared pest plant, it may still be invasive in some situations. Consider lower risk alternatives for your garden, such as native plants.

Habitats

Coastal areas, disturbed forest, riparian margins, wasteland, urban areas, roadsides.

Dispersal

Seeds dispersed by gravity and water. Vegetative spread from root fragments. Human-mediated dispersal through dumping of garden waste.

Impact on environment

Can form dense infestations and outcompete native plants. Allelopathic.

Control

Site Management

Follow up treated areas 3 times per year. Encourage natural regeneration of native plants or replant treated areas where possible after 2-3 treatments to establish dense ground cover and minimise reinvasion.

Recommended approaches

Physical control

Method: Dig out.

Plant parts requiring disposal: Seeds and roots.

Disposal options: Remove to greenwaste or landfill.

Biocontrol

Biocontrol is currently not available for this species.

Community agrichemical control recommendations

No qualifications: Cut stump and paste freshly cut base of stems with metsulfuron gel.

Basic Growsafe certified: Foliar spray with 5g metsulfuron-methyl per 10L of water.