High risk weeds

Black knapweed (Centaurea X moncktonii)

This plant:

• is listed in the Biosecurity Act as Prohibited Matter, meaning you MUST report it.
• is a serious crop weed.
• is not yet present in NSW.

Actions:

• Keep an eye out if your feed or fodder is coming from Victoria.
• You must report this plant if you see it anywhere in NSW. 1800 680 244

Full profile: Black knapweed.

Broomrapes (Orobanche species)

These plants are:

• listed in the Biosecurity Act as Prohibited Matter, meaning you MUST report them.
• a serious parasitic crop weed.
• not yet present in NSW.

The Murray Bridge area of SA is  the only known site to have had these plants and it is considered eradicated.

Actions:

• Keep an eye out for this plant, particularly if your feed or fodder is from SA.
• You must report these plants if you see them anywhere in NSW.
  1800 680 244

Full profile: Broomrapes

Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus)

This plant :

• is listed in the Biosecurity Act as Prohibited Matter, meaning you MUST report it.
• is a Weed of National Significance.
• is a highly invasive grass.
• is not yet present in NSW.

Actions:

• Keep an eye out if your feed or fodder is coming from QLD and/or NT.
• You must report this plant if you see it anywhere in NSW. 1800 680 244

Full profile: Gamba grass

Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima)

This plant:

• is listed in the Biosecurity Act as Prohibited Matter, meaning you MUST report it.
• is a highly invasive grass
• was found for sale in NSW nurseries 2008, but is not present in NSW.

Actions:

• Keep an eye out if your feed or fodder is coming from VIC and/or ACT.
• You must report this plant if you see it anywhere in NSW. 1800 680 244

Full profile: Mexican feather grass

Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus)

This plant is:

• listed in the Biosecurity Act as Prohibited Matter, meaning you MUST report it.
• a Weed of National Significance.
• an invasive herb, toxic to humans and animals.

NSW has had isolated outbreaks and this plant is the subject of a strict eradication and surveillance program.

Actions:

• Keep an eye out if your feed or fodder is coming from central and/or southern QLD.
• You must report this plant if you see it anywhere in NSW. 1800 680 244

Full profile: Parthenium weed

Rubber vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora)

This plant is:

• listed in the Biosecurity Act as Prohibited Matter, meaning you MUST report it.
• a Weed of National Significance.
• an invasive vine.
• not yet present in NSW.

Actions:

• Keep an eye out if your feed or fodder is from QLD.
• You must report this plant if you see it anywhere in NSW. 1800 680 244

Full profile: Rubber vine

Siam weed (Chromolaena odorata)

Also known as: chromolaena, triffid weed, bitter bush, Jack-in-the-bush

This plant is:

• listed in the Biosecurity Act as Prohibited Matter, meaning you MUST report it.
• on the National Environmental Alert List.
• a serious weed impacting pastures and is toxic to cattle.
• not yet present in NSW.

Actions:

• Keep an eye out if your feed or fodder is from Northern QLD.
• You must report this plant if you see it anywhere in NSW. 1800 680 244

Full profile: Siam weed

Kochia (Bassia scoparia)

This plant is:

• listed in the Biosecurity Act as Prohibited Matter, meaning you MUST report it.
• on the National Environmental Alert List.
• a serious crop and pasture weed.
• not yet present in NSW.

It was previously planted in WA (but is now considered eradicated) and was found contaminating carrot seed in TAS.

Actions:

• Keep an eye out for this plant, particularly if your feed or fodder is from WA or TAS.
• You must report this plant if you see it anywhere in NSW. 1800 680 244

Full profile: Kochia

Koster’s curse (Clidemia hirta)

This plant is:

• listed in the Biosecurity Act as Prohibited Matter, meaning you MUST report it.
• a highly invasive shrub in pastures.
• not yet present in NSW.

This plant was once detected in Northern QLD, but is considered eradicated.

Actions:

• Keep an eye out for this plant, particularly if your feed or fodder is from Northern QLD.
• You must report this plant if you see it anywhere in NSW.
  1800 680 244

Full profile: Koster's curse

Spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe subsp. Micranthos)

This plant:

• is listed in the Biosecurity Act as Prohibited Matter, meaning you MUST report it.
• is a potential weed of pastures.
• is not yet present in NSW.
• was once found in ACT, but is considered eradicated.

Actions:

• Keep an eye out for this plant, particularly if your feed or fodder is from ACT.
• You must report this plant if you see it anywhere in NSW. 1800 680 244

Full profile: Spotted knapweed

Witchweeds (Striga species)

These plants:

• are listed in the Biosecurity Act as Prohibited Matter, meaning you MUST report them.
• are serious parasitic weeds impacting crops.
• are not yet present in NSW.
• were once detected in QLD (on a cane farm near Mackay), but are considered eradicated.

Actions:

• Keep an eye out for this plant, particularly if your feed or fodder is from QLD.
• You must report these plants if you see them anywhere in NSW.
  1800 680 244

Full profile: Witchweeds

Burr ragweed (Ambrosia confertiflora)

This plant is:

• unpalatable and can cause  fault in wool.
• a human allergen.
• is found on the western slopes and plains of NSW
• also found in South-East QLD.

Action: If you see this weed, contact your local council weeds officer for assistance.

Full profile: Burr ragweed

Cape tulip (Moraea flaccida and Moraea miniata)

This plant is:

• invasive and toxic and impacts pastures and cereals.
• found  in Hunter Valley, Riverina, western slopes, western plains and all coastal regions of NSW.

Action: If you see this weed, contact your local council weeds officer for assistance.

Full profiles: Cape tulip one leaf and cape tulip two leaf

Chilean needle grass (Nassella neesiana)

This plant is:

• a serious pasture invader, reducing production, injuring stock, and causing wool and hide fault.
• found in the Northern Tablelands and North West Slopes of NSW.
• also found in VIC, SA, TAS and ACT.

Action: If you see this weed, contact your local council weeds officer for assistance.

Full profile: Chilean needle grass 

Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis)

This plant:

• invades pastures, and is toxic to stock.
• is found in coastal NSW and on the Northern and Southern Tablelands.
• is also found in QLD and VIC.

Action: If you see this weed, contact your local council weeds officer for assistance.

Full profile: Fireweed

Giant rat’s tail grass (Sporobolus pyramidalis)

This plant is:

• an invasive grass that reduces production
• found in QLD

Action: If you see this weed, contact your local council weeds officer for assistance

Full profile: Giant rat's tail grass

Hymenachne (Hymenachne amplexicaulis and hybrids)

This plant is:

• a Weed of National Significance.
• an invasive, semi-aquatic water grass.
• found in isolated sites on the NSW North Coast
• actively being controlled in NSW.
• also found in QLD and NT.

Action: If you see this weed, contact your local council weeds officer for assistance.

Full profile: Hymenachne

Serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma)

This plant is:

• a Weed of National Significance.
• a highly invasive grass
• in NSW, and the main infestations are in the Central and Southern Tablelands from Mudgee south to the Victorian border and small areas on the Northern Tablelands.
• also in VIC, TAS and ACT.

Action: If you see this weed, contact your local council weeds officer for assistance.

Full profile: Serrated tussock

Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium)

This plant is:

• a Weed of National Significance.
• a serious crop and pasture weed.
• now found in most parts of NSW.
• also in VIC and SA.

Action: If you see this weed, contact your local council weeds officer for assistance.

Full profile: Silverleaf nightshade

Tobacco weed (Elephantopus mollis)

This plant is:

• an invasive threat to beef and dairy pastures
• found in Northern QLD.

This plant was once found on the North Coast - but is considered eradicated.

Action: If you see this weed, contact your local council weeds officer for assistance.

Full profile: Tobacco weed

Aleman grass (Echinochloa polystachya)

This plant is:

• a water weed.
• is found in QLD.

Action: If you see this weed, contact your local council weeds officer for assistance.

Full profile: Aleman grass