Identifying Buffel Grass

Buffel Grass is a nasty, nasty weed. It has devastated conservation reserves in South Australia and the Northern Territory, but it is not yet established in Victoria.

Learn to identify it, keep a look out and report all observations.

Buffel Grass (left) and the similar-looking Windmill Grass (Chloris truncata - native, middle) and Feathertop Rhodes Grass (Chloris virgata - weed, right)

Identification of Buffel Grass and look-alikes

Buffel Grass is a summer-growing weed, so from October to April (or so) the Buffel tussocks are thick, lush and green, and the purple flower heads are quite distinctive. It looks a bit like a miniature version of the Fountain Grass you see in gardens however the Buffel seed head is only 10-15 cm long. Fountain Grass seed heads are about 25 cm long.

In the bush, Buffel Grass has a few look-alikes: Windmill Grass (Chloris truncata - native) and Feathertop Rhodes Grass (Chloris virgata - weed). When you're driving along the road the seed heads look similar but both Chloris species have an "umbel" flowering head (several short spikes). Buffel Grass has a single spike flowering head.

This Buffel Grass identification factsheet from South Australia has more examples.

You can also explore a three dimensional model of Buffel Grass:

How is Buffel Grass spread?

Although it is widespread in other states, infestations in Victoria are currently small and scattered, and mostly along the major transport routes. Buffel Grass has lots of tiny seeds which can be spread on clothing but at the moment it is primarily spread via vehicles and machinery.