Launched by Council’s environment team, the tool enables users to enter key characteristics of a weed - such as branch structure, leaf shape, flower and fruit colour - and search results on an extensive database. 

It matches possible weeds and provides information on each, including plant description, habitat, dispersal and control methods.

Council’s invasive species supervisor Paul Martin said the initiative helps people to identify weeds on their property and make decisions about how to control them.

“The database features more than 100 species of the most commonly-found weeds in Eurobodalla backyards.

“The finder itself was created with the help of university students, trainees and work experience students, who were involved in the mammoth task of entering data and categorising the various plants.”

The Weed Finder is already proving popular on the new Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens website since it went live in October last year.

Mr Martin said it would continue to grow with the addition of new weeds as needed.

Batemans Bay landholder Isabel Darling said the finder was useful to learn what was growing in her garden.

“It’s good to have a resource to identify local weeds in the area,” she said.

“There’s plants I didn’t realise were weeds. It’s fun to explore.

“The format is great too because it’s mobile-friendly so you can take your device out into the garden and compare the plant to the wide range of photos in the finder.”

Use the finder on the new Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens website at www.erbg.org.au/weeds.php or search “Eurobodalla Weed Finder”.

If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, email a photo of the plant to council@esc.nsw.gov.au