What does it look like?
Shrub or small tree (<5 m) with smooth, heart-shaped leaves (3-20 cm long) that turn red with age. Small and inconspicuous individual flowers occur in clusters of spikes (<17 cm long, Sept-Nov) are followed by smooth fruits (<8-10 mm diameter) made up of two sections with a groove in between, and two small 'antennae' that stick out from the top.
Seed is spread by birds, water, and machinery, especially roadside mowers.
Why is it a problem?
Queensland poplar produces large amounts of seeds and is shade tolerant. It forms a sub-canopy and can displace native species by competing for light, nutrients, water, and space. It’s likely to invade regenerating bush, forest margins, roadsides, and waste places.
Control methods
Physical control
Grub out seedlings all year round.
Herbicide control
- Cut and stump paint larger plants with picloram gel. Or,
- Spray smaller plants with metsulfuron methyl 600g/kg (5g/10L).
- Replant site with native species to prevent re-establishment.
- 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 (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
FamilyEuphorbiaceae
TypePlants
GroupShrub
HabitatLand
Management ProgrammeNational Pest Plant Accord (NPPA)Unwanted Organism
