Gazania is one of those plants that looks cheerful at first glance. Its large, stripy daisy flowers light up verges and front gardens across Dawesville, and it thrives in the sandy coastal soils that challenge many other ornamentals. Behind the colour, however, is a plant that has quietly become one of the most persistent coastal invaders in the Southern Corridor.

Although Gazania is not a declared weed under Western Australian biosecurity law, it is recognised by conservation agencies and local governments as a serious environmental weed. It spreads easily from gardens into dunes and bushland, where it forms dense mats that push out native species and weaken the natural systems that protect the coastline.

How to recognise Gazania in the garden and dunes

Gazania belongs to the daisy family and is easy to identify once gardeners know what to look for. It is commonly planted as a groundcover, but the same traits that make it tough and colourful also make it highly invasive in coastal environments.

Leaves

• Long, narrow leaves arranged in a rosette close to the ground
• Upper surface usually green, underside often silver or white
• Leaves may feel slightly hairy or smooth

Flowers

• Large, showy daisy-like blooms
• Colours typically yellow, orange, bronze or pink
• Often with darker rings or markings near the centre

Growth habit

• Spreads by runners as well as seed
• Forms thick mats that cover bare sand and disturbed ground
• Thrives on verges, vacant blocks and the edges of walking tracks

Why Gazania is a problem for Dawesville’s coastline

In Dawesville, Gazania is now common along the foreshore, dunes, verges and disturbed sandy areas. Once it escapes from gardens, it competes strongly with local coastal plants that play an important role in stabilising dunes and providing habitat.

Dense Gazania mats can smother native groundcovers and low shrubs, reducing plant diversity and changing the structure of dune vegetation. This affects insects, lizards and other small animals that rely on native plants for food and shelter. Over time, the loss of deep-rooted and well-adapted native species can leave dunes more vulnerable to erosion.

Gazania also spreads readily through dumped garden waste. When clumps are thrown into bushland or onto the back of dunes, they often re-root and start new infestations. This makes responsible disposal and replacement planting particularly important in coastal suburbs such as Dawesville, Falcon and Wannanup.

Native look-alikes that do the job better

Many gardeners choose Gazania for its toughness and bright flowers, but there are local species that offer similar colour and coverage without the environmental cost. These natives are well suited to sandy soils and support local biodiversity.

Scaevola crassifolia (fan flower)

• Low, spreading shrub with thick, fleshy leaves
• Purple or blue fan-shaped flowers through the warmer months
• Excellent for dune stabilisation and coastal gardens

Olearia axillaris (coastal daisy bush)

• Silvery, aromatic foliage
• Small white daisy flowers
• Common in healthy dunes and ideal as a coastal screening shrub

Carpobrotus virescens (pigface)

• Succulent, triangular leaves that sprawl across the sand
• Bright pink or purple flowers
• Key native groundcover for dune stability and habitat

Brachyscome iberidifolia (Swan River daisy)

• Delicate, small daisies in purple, white and blue
• Fine, soft foliage
• Annual wildflower that adds colour without becoming invasive

Removing Gazania from sandy coastal gardens

Gardeners who choose to phase out Gazania can do so gradually and effectively, particularly after rain when the sand is moist. Small patches are best removed by hand, taking care to lift the entire crown and root system. A garden fork can help loosen the sand around larger clumps.

For extensive mats, the plants can be rolled back like carpet after loosening the soil, with runners and roots removed as completely as possible. Follow-up checks after four to six weeks are important, as any remaining fragments may reshoot. All plant material should be bagged and placed in the general waste bin rather than composted or placed in green waste collections, to avoid further spread.

Similar care applies to other coastal weeds such as boneseed and sea spurge, which also threaten local dunes. Where infestations are large or occur in sensitive bushland, residents are encouraged to work with local bushcare groups or the relevant land manager.

Choosing plants that support Dawesville’s natural corridors

The gardening choices made in Dawesville backyards and verges have a direct influence on the health of nearby dunes, reserves and wildlife corridors. Replacing Gazania with native alternatives helps protect the coastline, supports pollinators and small fauna, and maintains the character of the local landscape.

Residents who are unsure about plant identification or suitable replacements can seek advice from local native nurseries, community environment groups or online resources that focus on coastal gardening in Western Australia. By gradually shifting away from invasive ornamentals and towards locally appropriate species, Dawesville gardeners can play a quiet but powerful role in caring for the Southern Corridor’s natural assets.