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• November 2025 Newsletter
  November 2025Download
• Weed Watch: Red Cestrum

  Red Trumpet shaped flowers appear in clusters at the ends of drooping branches, leaves are egg shaped

  Spread by birds, water,soil and machinery Red Cestrum is a significant naturalised environmental weed that invades native bushland and displaces native plants, often found in moist wet sclerophyll forests.

  Best methods for removal are:

  • remove the plants by hand being sure to remove all roots
  • cutting back the canes and painting with herbicide
  • cutting back before seeds develop will reduce the spread
  • seedlings can be hand pulled or spot sprayed with herbicide

  

  

  Botanic Name: Cestrum elegans

  Common Name: Red Cestrum

  Origin: Mexico

  Flower Colour: Red

  Flowers: Winter – Spring

  A good indigenous replacement for Red Cestrum is Hazel Pomaderris

  

  Photo Credit: VicFlora

  Botanical Name:  Pomaderris aspera

  Common Name: Hazel Pomaderris

  Family:  Rhamnaceae

  Size: 5-12m H x 2-4m W

  Flowers: Oct – Nov

  Growth Habit: Leafy Shrub

  Growing Conditions:  moist soil, part to full shade

• October 2025 Newsletter
  October 2025Download
• September 2025 Newsletter
  September 2025Download
• Protecting Pakenham Grassland Reserve and the Rare Dianella amoena

  Managed by Cardinia Shire Council, The Pakenham Grassland Reserve (PGR) is one of Victoria’s most precious natural treasures. Listed as Critically Endangered under the EPBC Act, this remnant grassland is of State and potentially National significance. It is home to diverse native plants and wildlife, including the rare Dianella amoena (Matted Flax-lily), a species under serious threat of extinction.

  Recently CEC received a generous donation from Wendy and Alex Smart to assist in protecting and restoring PGR and the rare Dianella amoena.

  Photo credits: Dianella amoena: Neville Walsh/VicFlora Pakenham Grassland Cardinia Shire Council