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Cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralix)

This introduced European heath may establish in cool, wet, acidic environments in Australia. Where it forms dense growth, it can compete with native plants and alter heathland habitat.

Key facts

Type: Weed, shrub.

Native to: Western and northern Europe.

Established in: .

Other names: Cross-leafed heath, Cross-leaved heather.

Best time to act: Look for flowering plants in summer to early autumn and treat before seed capsules mature.

Identification

  • It is a small, evergreen shrub, usually growing upright to about 30 centimetres tall and spreading to about 60 centimetres wide.
  • Its narrow leaves grow in whorls of four around the stems, giving them a cross-like appearance.
  • Rose-pink, bell-shaped flowers form in clusters near the ends of the stems.
  • Flowers appear from summer to early autumn.
  • Look-alike: Other heaths and heathers can look similar; check for the distinctive whorls of four leaves and clustered pink flowers.

Where it grows

In Australia, suitable sites include cool, moist, acidic ground such as wet heath, bog margins and open woodland.

Why it matters

  • Dense patches can compete with native heathland plants for space and resources.
  • If it spreads, it can reduce the diversity of native vegetation and change habitat structure.
  • Infestations may make affected sites harder to manage and restore.

How it spreads

  • Plants produce seeds after flowering, which can establish new plants in suitable conditions.
  • Seeds and plant material may be moved with contaminated soil, mud, equipment or nursery material.

Control options

  • For small patches, hand-pull or dig out plants when the soil is moist, removing roots while minimising soil disturbance.
  • Bag and dispose of flowering or seed-bearing material so it is not spread.
  • For larger infestations, use only herbicides registered for the plant and site, strictly following the label, or other methods approved by the relevant authority.
  • Recheck treated areas for regrowth and seedlings, and report suspected infestations to the state or territory biosecurity agency where relevant.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Clean soil and plant material from boots, tools, vehicles and machinery before leaving an infested site.
  • Avoid moving contaminated soil or plant material to clean areas.
  • 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