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Indian rosewood (Dalbergia sissoo)

Indian rosewood is an introduced tree naturalised in parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory. It can sucker prolifically, forming dense thickets that replace native vegetation and affect access to waterways and coastal areas.

Key facts

Type: Weed, tree.

Native to: The Indian subcontinent and Myanmar, possibly also western Asia..

Established in: QLD, WA, NT.

Other names: Himalaya raintree, East Indian rosewood, Shisham, Sissoo.

Best time to act: Survey year-round and revisit after rain, when seedlings and suckers may be easier to find and remove.

Identification

  • A tree with grey-brown bark that becomes deeply fissured on the main trunk.
  • Leaves are compound, with usually three to five broad leaflets arranged along a central stalk.
  • Young stems can be hairy.
  • Small, pea-shaped flowers grow in clusters, and the fruit is a flat pod containing seeds.

Where it grows

In Australia it grows along watercourses on sandy or gravelly ground, and also in nearby drier forests and plains, coastal areas and remnant vegetation.

Why it matters

  • It is regarded as an environmental weed in the Northern Territory and in some parts of Queensland.
  • Prolific suckering can produce dense thickets that replace native vegetation.
  • It can reduce the productivity of grazing areas.
  • Dense growth can deny access to waterways and coastal areas.

How it spreads

  • Established trees sucker prolifically, allowing stands to expand locally.
  • Pods and seeds may be moved by water, particularly along watercourses.

Control options

  • Hand-pull or dig out small plants, removing the roots where practical.
  • For larger plants, use an appropriate cut-stump or other approved treatment with a herbicide registered for the situation, following the label and local requirements.
  • Revisit treated sites and remove or treat regrowth and suckers.
  • Check with the relevant state or territory biosecurity agency for local control requirements and reporting guidance.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Clean soil and plant material from vehicles, machinery, boots and tools before leaving infested sites.
  • Avoid moving pods, seed-contaminated material or soil from infested 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: Not listed. Not found in the Western Australian Organism List. Check with DPIRD before moving or keeping it.
  • Tasmania: Not declared. Not a declared weed in Tasmania. Other laws may still apply.
  • Northern Territory: Declared weed. Weeds Australia lists it as a declared weed in the NT under the Weeds Management Act 2001. Check the NT declared weeds list for its class and what it requires.
  • 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.

  • Queensland: Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld), administered by Biosecurity Queensland (13 25 23)
  • Western Australia: Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (WA), administered by the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Northern Territory: Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976 (NT), administered by NT Department of Lands, Planning and Environment

Sources