What does it look like?
Growing up to 2.5 metres tall, this species has oval leaves measuring 5–15 cm long and 1–2 cm wide and gives off an unpleasant smell when crushed. In summer, it produces clusters of greenish white flowers that release a strong fragrance at night, followed by glossy white berries 5-10 mm in diameter.
Queen of the night can invade disturbed and open forest, forest margins, secondary forest, stream edges and shrublands, and prefers damp sites
Why is it a problem?
Queen of the Night produces seeds that can remain dormant in the soil for many years. It’s also a fragment spreader, meaning that it’s able to reproduce from creeping roots and stem fragments.
Due to a preference of damp and shady conditions and the ability to grow well in most soils, this species does well in native forest, eventually out-competing native species. It is also poisonous to animals, though not palatable.
Control methods
It can be difficult to distinguish from many native species (apart from the foul smell when crushed), so best controlled when in flower. Wear gloves when handling.
Cut stems can re-sprout so do not leave pulled plants or cuttings on the ground. Cuttings and small plants can be hung in other trees to dry out, or treated with foliar spray
Physical control
Pull out small plants (all year round), leave on site to rot down.
Herbicide control
- Cut down and paint stump (all year round) with 100ml Tordon Brushkiller per 1L water or 100ml triclopyr (600g/l) per 1L water.
- Spray (spring-summer) using 150ml triclopyr (600g/l) +penetrant per 10L water.
CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide, PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.
Related links
Management Programme
National Pest Plant Accord
All plants on MPI's National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA) are unwanted organisms under the Biosecurity Act 1993 whose formal or casual trade contributes significantly to their spread.
Plants on the Accord cannot legally be propagated, distributed, or sold in New Zealand. If allowed to spread further, these pest plants could seriously damage our economy and environment.
Unwanted Organism
An unwanted organism is any organism that's capable of causing harm to natural or physical resources (like forests and waterways) or human health. A number of introduced pests in New Zealand are classed as unwanted.
More informationTaxonomies
FamilySolanaceae
TypePlants
GroupShrub
HabitatLand
Management ProgrammeNational Pest Plant AccordUnwanted Organism
