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Cornish heath (Erica vagans)

Cornish heath is one of 17 Erica species declared weeds under Tasmania’s Biosecurity Act 2019 and associated Regulations. Erica species are recognised as environmental and pasture weeds, and their importation, sale and distribution are prohibited in Tasmania.

Key facts

Type: Weed, shrub.

Native to: Southwestern Europe.

Established in: .

Other names: Erica, heath, heather.

Best time to act: Look for Cornish heath in flower in late summer to autumn and carry out any slashing before flowering.

Identification

  • Cornish heath is an evergreen shrub with woody stems and narrow, stiff leaves.
  • The leaves are arranged opposite each other or in whorls.
  • Its flowers are pink to purple and occur in clusters.
  • Erica flowers have four lobes, and the fruit is a capsule containing numerous small seeds.
  • Look-alike: Native Australian heaths may look similar, but native heaths in the subfamily Styphelioideae generally have five petals and alternate leaves, rather than Erica’s four-lobed flowers and opposite or whorled leaves.

Where it grows

In southern Australia, Erica species occur in heathland, forest, woodland, drainage lines and coastal vegetation, often in areas with soil disturbance and average annual rainfall of 600 mm or more.

Why it matters

  • Erica species can be weeds of pasture and native vegetation, including wet and dry forest, grassland and riparian areas.
  • Dense infestations can replace native species and alter the composition and diversity of native plant communities.
  • In pasture, Erica can reduce productivity.
  • Erica is extremely combustible and increases fire hazard risk.

How it spreads

  • Erica reproduces by seed and stem layering; seeds can be dispersed by wind, water, gravity, slashing, vehicle draught and soil or mud.
  • Stems that contact moist soil can root, and plants can shoot from broken stems and roots.
  • Long-distance spread can result from garden planting, commercial cultivation, or transport of soil containing seeds.

Control options

  • Hand-pull or dig out seedlings and small plants, removing as much of the root system as possible, and dispose of material safely to prevent regeneration or layering.
  • Slashing before flowering can reduce seed production but will not kill plants; do not slash during or soon after flowering because this spreads seed.
  • Burning will not kill Erica and is likely to worsen an infestation; follow-up control is essential.
  • Use registered herbicides or other approved methods suited to the site; weed matting can kill Erica and can achieve a 100% kill after 45 weeks.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Clean equipment and personnel using the Washdown Guidelines for Weed and Disease Control to reduce the chance of spreading Erica.
  • Avoid moving soil or mud that may contain seeds to uninfested sites.
  • Inspect and clean vehicles, plant and footwear before leaving an infested area, paying attention to tyres, radiators, belly plates, tracks and floor mats.
  • Wash down at a designated bay where runoff is contained and can be monitored for seedlings.
  • Record each washdown so the client has evidence of clean entry and exit.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): No national listing. Managed under state and territory law.
  • Queensland: Not prohibited or restricted. Not listed as prohibited or restricted matter in Queensland. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: Not a priority weed. Not a state or regional priority weed in NSW. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Not declared. Not declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Other Victorian laws may still apply.
  • South Australia: Not declared. Not declared under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019. Other laws may still apply.
  • Western Australia: Permitted, not declared. Listed as a permitted organism in WA, so it can be brought in, but it is not a declared pest.
  • Tasmania: Declared weed. Property managers are required by law to control declared weeds, and their import and sale are prohibited.
  • Northern Territory: Check NT list. There is no NT weed profile for it. Check the NT declared weeds list for its current status.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Not declared. Not declared under the Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT). A general biosecurity duty still applies.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

Sources