General description

Shrub or small tree < 5 m tall, produces latex. Leaves are < 20 cm long and turn red in cooler months. Flowers are borne in racemes < 17 cm long in September – November. Fruit is fleshy, bivalved and < 1 cm in diameter.

What you need to know

To help protect our environment:

You must not breed, distribute, release or sell Queensland poplar. As Queensland poplar is a National Pest Plant Accord species, these restrictions apply within the Auckland region and across the whole of New Zealand.
You must not plant Queensland poplar within the Auckland region, unless you are transferring an existing plant on your land to another location within the boundaries of the same property.
You must destroy any Queensland poplar on land that you occupy if it has been planted in breach of the above rules and you are directed to do so by an authorised person.

Auckland Council will control Queensland poplar at all sites within the Aotea/Great Barrier Island group where it is known to occur.

If you see Queensland poplar anywhere on Aotea/Great Barrier Island group, please report it to Auckland Council at pestfree@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.

Habitats

Roadsides, scrubland, regenerating forest, forest gaps and margins, plantations, coastal areas, gardens, disturbed sites.

Dispersal

Seeds dispersed by birds, gravity and water. Human-mediated dispersal through contaminated machinery.

Impact on environment

Displaces native plant species in scrubland, regenerating bush, pine forest and coastal ecosystems.

Control

Site Management

Follow up treated areas 3 times per year. Encourage natural regeneration of native plants or replant treated areas where possible after 2-3 treatments to establish dense ground cover and minimise reinvasion.

Recommended approaches

Physical control

Method: Dig out

Plant parts requiring disposal: Seeds

Disposal options: Remove to greenwaste or landfill if practical

Biocontrol

Biocontrol is currently not available for this species.

Community agrichemical control recommendations

No qualifications
Cut stump and paste freshly cut base of stems with metsulfuron gel
or
Ringbark stem and paste with metsulfuron gel

Basic Growsafe certified
Cut stump and spray freshly cut base with 5g metsulfuron-methyl per 1 L of water

Certified Handler/Experienced agrichemical user
Foliar spray seedlings with 5g metsulfuron-methyl per 10L of water and 20ml penetrant

CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide please read the label thoroughly to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.