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Fleabane

Conyza bonariensis (flax leaf), Conyza sumatrensis (tall fleabane), Conyza albida (Canadian fleabane)
Originally a roadside weed, fleabane’s presence in Australia is growing as our reliance on reduced tillage in broadacre farming systems is increasing. A member of the daisy family, fleabane is a tall, tap-rooted annual that produces many light fluffy seeds which are easily dispersed by wind. There are three main fleabane species in Australia and unfortunately fleabane resistance to glyphosate and paraquat has been recorded in eastern Australia.
Fleabane

 
 

Description

Fleabane seedlings are rosette shaped, with flaxleaf fleabane having lobed leaves while tall fleabane has toothed rather than lobed leaves. 

Flax leaf fleabane has grey-green leaves, grows to one metre tall with its side branches often taller than the main stem, has white to pink flowers and the cluster of seed heads looks like a candelabra. In comparison tall fleabane has more green leaves, is taller, growing up to two metres with a single stem with short side branches, has greenish white flowers and the cluster of seed heads looks like a pyramid.

Fleabane is a prolific seeder, producing up to 110,000 seeds per plant of which 80 per cent are viable. Therefore, fleabane emergence is often staggered, making control difficult. The seeds have no dormancy, so they can germinate whenever temperature and moisture conditions are suitable. 

Control

Fleabane generally emerges in spring and management with herbicides can be successful if young seedlings are targeted. Herbicide efficacy decreases as fleabane maturity increases. For best results apply herbicides in optimal conditions, applying post emergent herbicides to young fleabane seedlings at the rosette stage and rotate herbicide groups were possible. 

Increased crop competition, particularly by cereals, can suppress fleabane growth and seed set, therefore wide row cropping should be avoided in paddocks with high populations of fleabane. 

Balance® can provide residual control of flaxleaf fleabane in fallow situations.

Related Products

Balance
Alion brand tag
Balance Flow
XtendiMax 2


References

Chauhan, B (2019), ‘Tall fleabane: An emerging threat in grain and cotton cropping systems’, GRDC Update Papers, https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2019/08/tall-fleabane-an-emerging-threat-in-grain-and-cotton-cropping-systems

GRDC (2013), ‘Flaxleaf Fleabane Fact Sheet’, https://grdc.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/109049/grdc_fs_fleabane_low-res-pdf.pdf.pdf

Herbiguide (2014), ‘Flaxleaf fleabane’, Herbiguide, http://www.herbiguide.com.au/Descriptions/hg_Flaxleaf_Fleabane.htm

Herbiguide (2014), ‘Tall fleabane’, Herbiguide, http://www.herbiguide.com.au/Descriptions/hg_Tall_Fleabane.htm

Peltzer, S and Douglas, A (2020), ‘Fleabane’, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (WA), https://agric.wa.gov.au/n/261