What does it look like?
Pigs ear is a succulent (<1.3m tall) with powdery-looking, grey-green opposite leaves (<13 x 6 cm) with red margins. In summer clusters of orange, bell-shaped, drooping flowers (2.5cm) form on stalks (60cm) from the centre of leaf rosette. Seed spreads by wind and gravity.
Why is it a problem?
Fast growing, it competes with and replaces native species. It can be poisonous to stock. It is likely to invade coastal slopes and beaches, particularly on steep banks, rocky outcrops, cliff faces, and bare ledges. It can also establish in low scrub and dry, depleted grasslands, as well as on coastal cliffs and rocky bluffs.
Control methods
Physical control
Dig out plants, removing all leaves (leaves can form roots). Dispose of at landfill.
Herbicide control
- Spray plants with triclopyr 600EC at 6ml/L + penetrant. Penetrant is particularly important here as the coating on the leaf is very waxy.
- CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide, PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.
More information
Pigs ear is fairly widespread along most coastal margins in Hawke’s Bay between Te Awanga and Whirinaki.
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
FamilyCrassulaceae
TypePlants
GroupGroundcover
HabitatLand
Management ProgrammeNational Pest Plant AccordUnwanted Organism
