What does it look like?
Thorn apple is an upright, foul smelling annual herb that grows up to two metres tall. It has stout, smooth stems that range from green to reddish in colour. The leaves are broad, toothed, and grow alternately along the stem. Large white, trumpet shaped flowers appear between November and April. The fruit is egg shaped, usually spiny, and contains flat, kidney like seeds.
With its exotic looking leaves and spiky seed pods, thorn apple can surprise gardeners when it appears unexpectedly. While it’s sometimes grown as an ornamental annual, it produces large numbers of seeds. You may choose to remove it or prevent it from self seeding. Seeds are spread by birds, gravity, and by sticking to animal coats. Thorn apple prefers disturbed areas such as riparian margins, pasture, gardens, wasteland, and roadsides.
Why is it a problem?
Although thorn apple is not a legally declared pest plant, it can still be invasive in some situations. It can reduce crop yields and is toxic to both humans and animals. All parts of the plant are poisonous and handling it may irritate the skin.
Young plants grow quickly and can easily outcompete seedlings and small plants. Because thorn apple is poisonous, you may choose to remove it if there is any risk that children or pets could eat or handle it. Consider lower risk alternatives for your garden, such as native plants.
Control methods
Physical control
Method: Dig out. The seed heads will need disposing in your greenwaste/landfill if practical.
- Basic Growsafe certified: Cut stump and spray freshly cut base with 250ml glyphosate green per 1L of water.
- Certified handler/experienced agrichemical user: Foliar spray with 60ml triclopyr per 10 Litres of water and 20ml penetrant in spring or summer.
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