Phacelia - weed or pasture?

[Diane Whitehead]

It is interesting to see how California, South Africa and Australia have traded
plants.  At home they are part of a complex ecosystem, but in the foreign country
they sometimes look like field crops. Lupines seem to be grown deliberately in
South Africa.

Here is a purple field between Perth and Toodyay in Western Australia.  I didn't
know what it was until I found some growing beside the road.  It is a type of
Phacelia, a number of species of which grow in California.  Is this grown for
forage, or is it a weed?

[Maggi Young]

What super purply pictures!

I think Phacelia is often grown as a green manure crop, Diane, and when it flowers, of course,  it's very good for the Bees. Not sure if they would use it like that in Australai, though.

[Lesley Cox]

For a few years in the early 2000s, we grew a Phacelia, not sure which, campanulata maybe? as a field crop for oil or for its seed oil I think. But I haven't seen a field of it for maybe 5 years but in the areas where it was grown, there are wildling patches along the roadsides which are very pretty when in flower and they seem to be self-perpetuating, seeding back down each year. I wish P. sericea were as obliging.

[rob krejzl]

Campanulata and sericea are classified as weeds in Oz, but not tanacetifolia.

[Lesley Cox]

P. sericea classed as a weed? OH God, now I've heard everything. I believe Gentiana verna has the same classification in Western Australia.

[Lesley Cox]

I just Googled P. tanecetifolia and discovered that that is probably what we've been growing as a crop and is now a naturalized weed. Then I Googled P. sericea and found, among a few others, my own picture, as posted above. It was uplifted from the AGS Online show a couple of years ago.

[rob krejzl]

I just Googled P. tanecetifolia and discovered that that is probably what we've been growing as a crop and is now a naturalized weed.

Please don't tell AQIS.

[Lesley Cox]

I promise I won't say a word Rob. But they need to get themselves sorted because regardless of the habits of tanecetifolia and campanulatum, P. sericea is a beautiful and FAR from weedy species, quite tricky to maintain in good health for more than a single season, in my experience. While it does set seed, there's not much of it and the seedlings are quite difficult to bring to maturity. Not your usual weedy candidate.

[cohan]

It is interesting to see how California, South Africa and Australia have traded
plants.  At home they are part of a complex ecosystem, but in the foreign country
they sometimes look like field crops. Lupines seem to be grown deliberately in
South Africa.

Here is a purple field between Perth and Toodyay in Western Australia.  I didn't
know what it was until I found some growing beside the road.  It is a type of
Phacelia, a number of species of which grow in California.  Is this grown for
forage, or is it a weed?

interesting.. here, i wouldn't always draw a line between planted forage crops and weeds--many of our roadside and lawn and garden weeds are escaped forage plants, most of the rest came along with agriculture in one way or another...

[rob krejzl]

But they need to get themselves sorted because regardless of the habits of tanecetifolia and campanulatum, P. sericea is a beautiful and FAR from weedy species

Just another example of how such regulations are very blunt instruments when applied continent-wide I suppose.

[Paul T]

Diane,

Isn't that Patterson's Curse (also know as Salvation Jane)?  That is Echium plantagineum.  It's everywhere here, particularly with our decent rainfall this winter and spring.  Our paddocks around here are going to the most beautiful shade of purple.  It is taking over though, and driving out normal pasture.  At least I "think" that is what it is your picture isn't it?

[Maggi Young]

If Diane's plant is the Echium plantagineum then it most certainly isn't a forage plant or good for honey!

[Stephenb]

I remember on a visit to South Australia seeing these amazing blue pastures north of Adelaide and learning that it was Echium plantagineum, the name Paterson's (sp.) curse relating to the fact that it's poisonous to livestock... 

[Great Moravian]

Diane,

Isn't that Patterson's Curse (also know as Salvation Jane)?  That is Echium plantagineum.  It's everywhere here, particularly with our decent rainfall this winter and spring.  Our paddocks around here are going to the most beautiful shade of purple.  It is taking over though, and driving out normal pasture.  At least I "think" that is what it is your picture isn't it?

You are really extraordinarily polite.

[Lesley Cox]

Patterson's Curse is very beautiful from the air. Quite took my mind off a terryfying flight between Sydney and Melbourne a few years ago. Small plane, 300km winds, from the side.