What does it look like?
Leaves are green on top and furry underneath, wavy and deeply lobed, and up to 9cm long by 7cm wide. Both leaves and branches are covered in spikes. Flowers are mauve with a yellow centre. The fruit are green and white mottled globular tomato-like berries (2.5cm in diameter), which ripen to yellow.
Why is it a problem?
Apple of sodom forms dense thickets in coastal areas, excluding low growing native species. It can also dominate pasture, reducing stock holding capacity. Each berry contains hundreds of seeds so it can spread quickly if left to go to berry. It is poisonous to stock and humans.
Control methods
Contact us for advice on control at biosecurity@hbrc.govt.nz or phone 06 835 9200.
More information
Apple of Sodom is a Progressive Containment pest under the Hawkes Bay Regional Council Regional Pest Management Plan 2018 – 2038.
Under Plan Rule 5, a land occupier is required to destroy all Apple of Sodom on their land. A breach of this rule is an offence under Section 154N(19) of the Biosecurity Act 1993.
Currently Apple of Sodom is only known to exist in the Eskdale/Bay View area in Hawke’s Bay.
If you think you have discovered Apple of Sodom, contact us on biosecurity@hbrc.govt.nz or phone 06 835 9200.
Related links
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
Progressive Containment Programme
There are a number of pests that are well established in the Hawke’s Bay region but their present infestation levels are still low enough for those levels to be reduced region-wide through a progressive containment programme. Progressive Containment programmes have the less specific aim of reducing levels of infestation within their respective management zones. While the general intent is to reduce these infestations to zero-levels at some time into the future, the primary focus of a progressive containment programme is to preventing a pest from spreading. For well-established pests whose harmful effects and spread can still be reduced, progressive containment offers the best ratio of cost to benefits.
The goal is to maintain a pest population at the lowest feasible level and confine it to a particular area while reducing numbers over time. In some cases this will result in fewer sites infested or in others the overall density of the pest will reduce over a 10 year duration period. Containment programmes usually target habitats of high ecological value that require protection and restoration.
Rules
Plan Rule 5
Except where an occupier of land has entered into a Written Management Agreement approved by Hawke's Bay Regional Council, an occupier of land shall;
a) destroy all apple of Sodom, Australian sedge, cotton thistle, Darwin's barberry, nassella tussock, saffron thistle, velvetleaf, and woolly nightshade plants on their land
b) destroy all Japanise honeysuckle plants on their land within the defined containment area
c) destroy all old man's beard plants on their land within the Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges buffer area and containment area.
Taxonomies
TypePlants
GroupPerennial
HabitatLand
Management ProgrammeProgressive Containment Programme
RulesPlan Rule 5
