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Irish heath (Daboecia cantabrica)

Irish heath is an evergreen ornamental shrub recorded as naturalised in South Australia and listed as a high priority for further weed-risk assessment. Its South Australian herbarium record is sparse, so land managers should check for it near gardens and assess any plants found before they establish further.

Key facts

Type: Weed, shrub.

Native to: Atlantic western Europe, including Ireland and northern Spain.

Established in: SA.

Other names: St Dabeoc's heath, Cantabrian heath.

Best time to act: Look for flowering plants in summer and autumn, and control plants before they set seed.

Identification

  • It is a low, bushy, evergreen shrub with woody stems.
  • The small leaves are oval, glossy green above and pale or hairy underneath.
  • The flowers are pink to purple, drooping, bell-shaped and borne near the ends of the stems.
  • Flowers are most noticeable in summer and autumn.
  • Look-alike: Other heaths, including Erica species, can look similar; check the combination of drooping bell-shaped flowers and leaves with a pale, hairy underside.

Where it grows

In South Australia it has been recorded as naturalised, and may occur as a garden escape in suitable moist, acidic soils.

Why it matters

  • It is a potential weed of concern in South Australia and was prioritised for further weed-risk assessment.
  • The South Australian herbarium record lists one specimen, first collected in 1997, so its distribution and impacts in the state are not well represented by collection records.
  • If it establishes and spreads, its evergreen shrub growth may compete with native plants for space and resources.

How it spreads

  • It can reproduce by seed, and garden plantings may provide a source for escape into nearby areas.
  • Avoid moving soil or discarded garden material from sites where the plant is present.

Control options

  • For small plants, remove the whole plant and root system, preferably when the soil is moist, and prevent removed material from being dumped in bushland.
  • For larger shrubs, use an appropriate registered herbicide or approved treatment for the site and target plant, following the product label and any applicable permit requirements.
  • Check treated sites regularly and remove or treat seedlings and regrowth before they set seed.
  • Report suspected new or outlying infestations to the relevant state biosecurity agency or local natural resources management authority.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Clean soil and plant material from boots, tools and machinery before leaving an infested site, and dispose of the debris securely.
  • Do not transport contaminated soil or garden waste 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.

  • South Australia: Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (SA), administered by the regional landscape board

Sources