PLANTS OF THE FOREDUNES

Spinifex sericeus

The long stems of spinifex grow right to the front of the incipient foredune sending down roots at the nodes. It also spreads via the spherical “tumbleweed”  clumps of seedpods that roll along the beach propelled by wind. It has tough leaves covered in silky hairs.

More information:
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association’s native plants website

Ischaemum triticeum

This is a coarse grass with stems up to a couple of metres long. The leaves often have a reddish tinge.

More information:
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association’s native plants website
AusGrass2 ‘Grasses of Australia’ website

Hibbertia scandens

This is a vine that scrambles over the sand and sometimes climbs into trees. It has glossy leaves and 5-petalled bright yellow flowers that produce a capsule of red seeds. Not to be confused with the introduced weed Beach primrose , which has hairy green-grey leaves and 4-petalled pale yellow flowers.

More information:
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association’s native plants website

Ipomoea pes-caprae subsp. brasiliensis Hibbertia scandens

This vine gets its name from the shape of its leaves (pes-caprae is Latin for goat’s foot), which are folded upwards at the midrib. The flowers are pink to mauve. It grows down to the incipient foredune along with spinifex.

More information:
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association’s native plants website

Canavalia rosea

Another vine that grows down to the incipient foredune, Beach bean has three-lobed leaves and purple-pink pea-type flowers that produce poisonous seed pods.

More information here and also on Noosa Integrated Catchment Association’s native plants website

Vigna marina

The three-lobed leaves of Dune bean are similar to those of Beach bean, but the flowers are yellow. These are followed by bean-like pods which release their seeds when they dry out. This plant is found on beaches all over the world.

More information:
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association’s native plants website
Atlas of Living Australia

Carpobrotus glaucescens

Easily recognised by its succulent, three-cornered leaves, Pigface trails across the sand, sending down roots which stabilise the dunes. The bright pink flowers are followed by edible red fruit.

Find out more about Coastal pigface here and also on
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association’s native plants website

Stephania japonica

This wiry creeper has glossy heart-shaped leaves. It is sometimes known as Snake vine. There are separate male and female plants and the female has pale yellow flowers followed by red berries.

More information:
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association’s native plants website

Scaevola calendulacea

This is a prostrate plant with fleshy leaves and fan-shaped blue flowers. The fruit is a bluish-purple berry.

More information:
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association’s native plants website

Sesuvium portulacastrum

This is a succulent creeper with glossy strap-like leaves and stems that vary in colour from green to purplish red. It bears pink five-petalled flowers for most of the year. Sea purslane is not endemic to Australia, being found through much of the world.

More information:
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association’s native plants website

Dianella congesta

This tufted plant often grows in colonies because it spreads by underground roots. It has strap-like leaves with blue flowers followed by bright blue berries.

More information:
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association’s native plants website

Crinum pedunculatum

The strap-like leaves of this plant can be over a metre long and 10 cm wide. The white spidery flowers are borne in clusters and are followed by golfball-sized seed capsules.

Find out more about crinium lily here and also on
Australian Native Plants Society website
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association’s native plants website

Acacia sophorae

The natural range of this wattle is south of the Maroochy River, but it’s been planted widely elsewhere to stabilize dunes. In many parts of Australia it has become a weed. It bears typical yellow flower spikes, followed by long seed pods.

More information:
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association’s native plants website
Weeds of Australia website

Casuarina equisetifolia

Viewed from the beach, this is the most obvious tree on the frontal dunes. It’s easily identifiable by its weeping foliage and characteristic seed cones. It plays an important role in fixing nitrogen from the atmosphere and adding it to the soil.

Read more about the she-oak here and also on:
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association’s native plants website
Atlas of Living Australia

Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia

The leaves of this Banksia are dull green above and white below. The flowers are pale yellow and are followed by a woody cone whose follicles open when mature to release winged seeds.

More information:
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association’s native plants website

Pandanus tectorius

The leaves of this tree are spirally arranged and have small teeth along the edges. Larger trees are usually supported by prop roots. The female plants produce a pineapple-like seed cone whose individual seeds separate and drop when ripe. They can be roasted and eaten.

More information:
Atlas of Living Australia
Noosa Integrated Catchment Association’s native plants website
Australian Native Plants Society