What does it look like?
Goat’s rue is a woody, upright, herbaceous perennial that develops into dense clumps over time. When young, the plant is soft and spindly, but as it matures, it produces tall stems that typically die back during autumn and winter.
Its leaves are small, oval-shaped, and arranged in 4 to 9 pairs along the stem. From December to May, Goat’s rue produces small, pea-like flowers that are usually pinkish-blue, though variations in deep pink, white, or pale purple may also occur. These are followed by cylindrical seedpods marked with parallel veins.
Why is it a problem?
Goat’s rue poses a significant biosecurity risk due to its aggressive growth habits. It spreads rapidly, establishes easily, and thrives across a wide range of environmental conditions. The plant produces thousands of long-lived seeds and can also regenerate from stem fragments, making it difficult to control once established.
Its root system is particularly resilient, capable of surviving for several years and sending up new shoots seasonally. In addition to its invasive nature, Goat’s rue is known to be toxic to livestock, adding further concern for landowners and farmers.
Control methods
If you think you have found Goat’s Rue, contact us at biosecurity@hbrc.govt.nz or 06 835 9200.
More information
Goat’s Rue is listed as an Eradication species under the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Regional Pest Management Plan 2018-2038.
Related links
Hawkes Bay Regional Pest Management Plan 2018-2038
Notify Council
If you think you've found this pest, please get in touch with our Biosecurity Team at biosecurity@hbrc.govt.nz or call us on 0800 108 838.
Management Programme
Eradication Programme
An Eradication Programme attempts to reduce a pest's level of infestation to zero, across an infestation zone, over a specified time frame. To be successful; the rate of removal must exceed the rate of increase of the pest, reinvasion from other areas must be prevented, and all potentially reproductive individuals must be targeted. For these reasons, eradication programmes require robust design, efficient implementation, sufficient money, and trained field staff to be successful.
More information
