Plants can grow up to ten metres high. In Marlborough, it has a limited distribution on the mainland with a reasonable (yet isolated)m infestation on Rangitoto ki te Tonga/d’Urville Island. This months ‘Weed of the Month” is the ugly, itchy invader woolly nightshade, sometimes known as tobacco weed. It made our Dirty Dozen list because it is spreading rapidly around the Whangarei Heads peninsula, and left to its own devices, over time it will take over the road edges, shrublands, forest margins, forest gaps, forestry and coastal areas. Some of the plants are very large and treelike. About 5 metres either side of the stream is Council owned reserve land. woolly nightshade was brought to New Zealand as a garden plant, and as early as 1883 was recorded as growing wild around Auckland. You must not plant woolly nightshade within the Auckland region, unless you are transferring an existing plant on your land to another location within the boundaries of the same property. One edge of our property closely borders a stream. Solanum mauritianum. The area, particularly the other side of the stream is heavily covered with woolly nightshade. It has large, grey and green leaves that... General Enquiries 0800 002 004 Stay connected: Call us toll-free between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. Woolly nightshade Solanum mauritianum What is woolly nightshade? Why is woolly nightshade a problem for NZ? Woolly nightshade Solanum mauritianum. It can quickly take over open habitats. Woolly nightshade is a problem weed because of its ability to grow in dense stands that crowd out more desirable pasture and forest plants. Woolly nightshade is a quick-growing, invasive weed. WOOLLY NIGHTSHADE Solanum mauritianum Also known as tobacco weed or nightshade tree, this capsicum-smelling tree of 10m is one of the most rampant weeds found in New Zealand and has made its way on to the top list of worst weeds in the country. I want to make a start on clearing this. Nightshade trees and shrubs produce attractive berries of various colour depending on ripeness and species. As woolly nightshade is a National Pest Plant Accord species, these restrictions apply within the Auckland region and across the whole of New Zealand. Description Woolly nightshade is a shrub or small tree up to 10 m in height with a trunk commonly up to 20 cm in diameter. Since then it has spread throughout Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty and parts of the Waikato. It was originally developed by scientists at HortResearch to help Department of Conservation staff control woody weeds like old man's beard. 13. The woolly nightshade is often mistaken for deadly nightshade which is poisonous but very rare in New Zealand. Woolly nightshade can grow in a large range of areas including: gullies, roadsides, farms, and wasteland, along with pastoral land, native forest margins, and urban areas – anywhere that birds visit; Woolly nightshade is established and widespread throughout Tauranga and surrounding areas. Woolly nightshade Solanum mauritianum Detect this pest plant before it becomes a problem Contact us: If you see this plant on your property or need help to identify a plant in the Wellington Region, contact us on 0800 496 734 or email pest.plants@gw.govt.nz. The woolly nightshade also produces toxins that poison the soil and causes Cut the plants close to the ground and treat the stump with Vigilant, which is available from garden centres and very effective against woolly nightshade and many other woody weeds. We help to support landowners with the management of this pest plant found in the Wellington Region. Woolly nightshade is a containment pest plant in the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Pest Management Plan and rules require land occupiers to destroy any … Woolly nightshade is one of the Dirty Dozen in New Zealand's War on Weeds. Woolly nightshade (also known as tobacco weed) is a shrub or small tree that can rapidly grow to 10m tall. Wooly nightshade is subject to a Sustained Control programme part of the Regional Pest Management Plan 2018.