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Italian bugloss (Echium italicum)

Italian bugloss is an uncommon introduced weed recorded in parts of New South Wales, including the Murray and Upper Hunter regions. It can occur in pasture and crops and may be poisonous to livestock.

Key facts

Type: Weed, herb.

Native to: Europe.

Established in: NSW, VIC, SA.

Best time to act: Look for plants and treat them before they set seed, with flowering occurring from spring to summer.

Identification

  • This biennial or perennial herb grows to about 80 cm high and usually has a single stem covered in short, dense hairs.
  • Its lance-shaped leaves grow in a basal rosette and along the stems; they are densely hairy, often wavy-edged, and about 6–30 cm long and 1–3.5 cm wide.
  • The conical flowers are up to 1.2 cm long and are usually cream or yellow, but can be pale pink or white.
  • Flowering occurs from spring to summer; the flowers have five protruding white stamens.
  • Look-alike: Paterson’s curse (Echium plantagineum) has heart-shaped basal leaves, can grow taller, to about 120 cm, and is less hairy.
  • Look-alike: Viper’s bugloss (Echium vulgare) is less hairy, has smaller leaves and usually has blue flowers with white hairs.

Where it grows

In Australia it is an uncommon weed of pasture, crops, roadsides and wasteland; in New South Wales, a few infestations have been recorded in the Murray and Upper Hunter regions.

Why it matters

  • It can be poisonous to livestock.
  • Its occurrence in pasture and crops can affect agricultural land use.
  • It also occurs along roadsides and in wasteland.

How it spreads

  • Italian bugloss reproduces by seed.
  • Seed-bearing plant material and contaminated soil can be moved from infested sites on vehicles, machinery, footwear or other equipment.

Control options

  • Dig out small infestations and single plants, removing all roots because plants may regrow if roots remain.
  • Maintain strong, competitive pastures using appropriate grazing management and manual control.
  • Use only herbicides registered for the intended site and follow the product label; contact the local council weeds officer for control advice in New South Wales.
  • Revisit treated areas to check for regrowth and new plants, and control them before they set seed.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Clean soil and plant material from vehicles, machinery, boots and equipment before leaving infested areas, and avoid moving contaminated soil or plant material.
  • Check gear and loads for plant material before moving them to clean 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: Not declared. Not a declared weed in Tasmania. Other laws may still apply.
  • Northern Territory: Not declared. Not on the NT A to Z weed list, and Weeds Australia does not list it as declared in the NT. Check the NT declared weeds list before moving or planting it.
  • 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.

  • New South Wales: Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Victoria: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (Vic), administered by Agriculture Victoria
  • South Australia: Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (SA), administered by the regional landscape board

Sources