Substantial rainfall followed by dry conditions has caused a “hairy panic explosion” in Wangaratta, Victoria.
Frustrated residents say they have spent hours each day clearing the weeds, with piles at times reaching roof height.
The fast-growing Panicum Effusum weed, more commonly known as “hairy panic”, has been drifting into the town for days.
One resident claimed she spent eight hours clearing up the tumble weed on one day, only to have it return the next.
In January 2014, tumbleweed in a town in the US state of New Mexico covered homes and blocked streets and, just two months later, towns around Colorado Springs were also swamped. Strong winds brought excessive amounts of the plant debris, causing piles of tumbleweed more than two metres high.
In this region of the US, tumbleweed comes from the Russian thistle plant. This is a prickly plant which makes the tumbleweed more dangerous and can even scratch your car as they drift past.