What does it look like?
Aluminium plant has square, purplish stems which creep along the ground (runners) and are densely hairy. Pleasant smelling, mint-like oval leaves (30-80 x 25-60 mm) are hairy on the underside with large, pale, silvery-grey patches on upper surface. Leaves are coarsely serrated along the edges and arranged alternately on the stems. It’s often found in gardens growing around trees and shrubs. From December to May, tubular, hairy, lemon-yellow flowers (20-25 mm long) are produced, but no seed is set. Plants seldom revert to plain green-leaved form.
Why is it a problem?
Aluminium plant rapidly covers large areas of ground with a thick mat that stops seedlings of native plants from establishing. It’s shade tolerant, so it can be a problem deep into bush areas, as well as on the margins. Stems take root wherever they touch the ground, and it’s also spread from soil movements or stem fragments dumped with garden waste. It’s likely to invade disturbed bush, shrubland, fernland, and margins of waterbodies throughout New Zealand.
Control methods
Physical control
Small patches can be dug out year-round and disposed of by mulching, burning and burying, or disposed of at a transfer station.
Herbicide control
Larger patches should be sprayed all year round with 5g metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg + penetrant per 10L water. Follow up every three months until eradication is achieved. No seedlings are produced, so eradication is possible.
CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide, PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.
More information
Also known as 'artillery plant'.
Related links
Management Programme
National Pest Plant Accord (NPPA)
The NPPA is designed to prevent the sale, distribution and propagation of a set list of pest plants (the Accord list) within New Zealand. If allowed to spread further, these pest plants could seriously damage the New Zealand economy and environment.
More informationUnwanted 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.
Taxonomies
FamilyLamiaceae
TypePlants
GroupGroundcover
HabitatLand
Management ProgrammeNational Pest Plant Accord (NPPA)Unwanted Organism
