Arum Lily

Arum Lily Blitz

The Arum Lily Blitz started in 2019 with support from the WA Government’s State NRM Program. It brings together Nature Conservation Margaret River Region, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, City of Busselton, Shire of Augusta Margaret River, Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association, Main Roads WA, Yallingup LCDC, Friends of the Cape to Cape Track and private landholders in a coordinated, strategic and sustained control effort.

While our top priority is to protect good quality native vegetation, we are also here to support the community more broadly in reducing arum lily across the landscape.

The campaign is one of largest community-scale weed programs in Australia with more than 2,600 landholders registered across 30,000 ha and hundreds more joining each year. This high level of community backing inspires us and drives the campaign.

Why join?

The scale of the issue is huge and achieving the aims of the Blitz may take 30+ years. Arum lily seeds are spread by birds, so success relies on all landholders doing their bit and controlling arum lily on their property.

Joining the Arum Lily Blitz means:

• Access to free herbicide and technical support
• Updates on program progress and opportunities for funding assistance
• Your property becomes part of a coordinated effort, allowing us to recruit other properties in your area and reduce the risk of reinfestation from across the fence.
• Your participation is counted – demonstrating community support to our funding bodies and ensuring the future of the Blitz.

How to control arum lily

The best time to spray is when 50–70% of plants are in flower — usually August to October in our region.

Control takes several years, but the workload decreases significantly each year as the population declines. Commitment and consistency are key.

Do it yourself

We provide free herbicide (chlorsulfuron) kits with instructions. Herbicide kits can be collected from 8 businesses stretching from Busselton to Augusta – check out this list to find your nearest pick-up location. Before you get to work, be sure to watch our quick how-to spray video to ensure you’re spraying safely and effectively.

Hire a contractor

Our Bush Regeneration Team can do the spraying for you — they’re experienced, careful and know the region intimately. We also work collaboratively with these local contractors:

• Margaret River Naturals (Rick Ensley) – 0439 907 119
• Cape Life Environmental Services (Brook Devine) – 0422 438 884
• Green Room Conservation (Ben Howell) – 0423 575 585
• Nicole Siemon and Associates (Nicole Siemon) – 0438 397 787
• Hemsley’s Landcare Services (Andrew Hemsley) – 0422 353 778

Spraying not your thing?

Although applying targeted herbicide is the most preferred solution for controlling arum lily, manual removal can be an option if you only have a few plants and the time and patience to dig them out. Regrowth of surviving plants will occur in following years if you have missed any of the root material or rhizomes so follow up each year is essential to success.  Watch this handy video on manual removal for more info.

Alternatively, at the very least – snap off the flower heads to contain the spread. De-heading just one flower could prevent hundreds of seedlings from spreading into new areas. Always wear protective clothing when handling arum lily.

Tell us what you’ve done

The work you do on your property is part of something much bigger.

Record the spraying you do each year using our simple online Herbicide Application Record or download the physical form and email it to us at arumlilyblitz@natureconservation.org.au.

Your data helps us measure the collective effort across the region and secure funding to keep the Blitz going.