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Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra)

Lombardy poplar is widely naturalised in parts of southern and eastern Australia and is regarded as an environmental weed in the ACT, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Its upright form and ability to spread by root suckers can allow it to establish beyond where it was planted.

Key facts

Type: Weed, tree.

Native to: North-western Africa, Europe, and western and northern Asia..

Established in: QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS, SA, WA.

Other names: black poplar, Italian poplar, evergreen Italian poplar, black cherry.

Best time to act: Survey when trees are in leaf for easier identification, and treat actively growing plants or cut stumps promptly, then revisit to find regrowth.

Identification

  • A tall, deciduous tree with a very narrow, upright crown and branches held close to the trunk.
  • Leaves are alternate, green, roughly triangular and toothed around the edges, with long, flattened stalks.
  • Mature trunks have grey-brown bark with deep furrows.
  • The cultivar is often recognised by its slender, sparse crown.
  • Look-alike: Other poplars, including upright-growing cultivars, can look similar; check the narrow crown together with the toothed, triangular leaves and furrowed mature bark.

Where it grows

In Australia it is naturalised in sub-coastal south-eastern Queensland, parts of eastern New South Wales, the ACT, eastern Victoria, south-eastern South Australia and coastal south-western Western Australia, including moist sites such as waterways and their margins.

Why it matters

  • It is regarded as an environmental weed in the ACT, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
  • Established trees can produce root suckers that form clonal growth and spread beyond the original planting.
  • Dense growth can compete with other plants for space, light and resources.

How it spreads

  • Root suckers can establish around planted or established trees and extend a stand.
  • Poplars can also be propagated from cuttings, and detached plant material may establish in suitable moist ground.

Control options

  • Remove small plants by hand or digging, taking care to remove the root system and check the area for suckers.
  • For larger trees, use a qualified operator where needed; cut-stump or other suitable herbicide methods should use only products registered for the purpose and follow the label.
  • Inspect the site after treatment and control regrowth and root suckers until no further plants appear.
  • Check local requirements and report new or outlying infestations to the relevant state or territory biosecurity agency where appropriate.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Remove soil, roots and plant fragments from machinery, boots and tools before leaving an infested site, especially when moving between waterways.
  • Do not move cuttings or contaminated soil to clean sites; dispose of plant material in accordance with local guidance.
  • 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: Declared pest, prohibited. It is a declared pest throughout the ACT. Dealing with it, such as selling, moving or keeping it, is prohibited.

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)
  • New South Wales: Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Australian Capital Territory: Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT), administered by ACT Biosecurity
  • Victoria: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (Vic), administered by Agriculture Victoria
  • Tasmania: Biosecurity Act 2019 (Tas), administered by Biosecurity Tasmania
  • South Australia: Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (SA), administered by the regional landscape board
  • Western Australia: Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (WA), administered by the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Sources