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Moth plant (Araujia sericifera)

Introduced as a garden ornamental, moth plant is now naturalised in Australia and can smother native plants in bushland. It is poisonous to people and animals, and its milky sap can irritate skin and eyes and cause dermatitis.

Key facts

Type: Weed, vine and creeper.

Native to: South America, including Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

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

Other names: White Bladder Flower, Cruel Plant, False Choko, Kapok Vine.

Best time to act: Flowers are present from November to March and mature fruit from April to July; treat seedlings and young plants when found and check regularly for regrowth.

Identification

  • A perennial, evergreen vine with twining stems that can climb 5–10 m through supporting vegetation.
  • Young stems are densely covered with very short hairs and become almost hairless with age; damaged stems, leaves and green fruit exude caustic milky sap.
  • The opposite leaves are egg-shaped to triangular or oblong, 30–110 mm long, with dark green upper surfaces and blue-green, hairy undersides.
  • Cream to white or slightly pinkish, fragrant tubular flowers grow singly or in clusters of two to five.
  • The fleshy, blue-green fruit is egg-shaped to pear-shaped, 60–100 mm long, and turns brown and woody with age; mature fruit splits to release black, silky-haired seeds.
  • Look-alike: Native common milk vine (Marsdenia rostrata) has hairless or sparsely hairy young stems and leaves hairless on both sides; its flowers are smaller than moth plant flowers.
  • Look-alike: Tweedia (Oxypetalum coeruleum) has bright blue flowers and much more slender, cigar-shaped fruit, while wax flower (Stephanotis floribunda) has hairless leaves.

Where it grows

In Australia it occurs in all mainland states except the Northern Territory, mainly in eastern coastal and adjoining tableland areas, including forest margins, creek banks, roadsides, disturbed sites, urban wasteland, gardens and wetlands.

Why it matters

  • It grows quickly and smothers other plants, including native shrubs and small trees, and shade-tolerant seedlings can establish in relatively undisturbed forest.
  • It is an environmental weed in bushland, urban areas and gardens, and can also occur in orchards and forestry plantations.
  • The plant, especially its leaves and seeds, is poisonous to people and animals; sap can cause skin irritation and dermatitis, eye irritation and, in some cases, breathing difficulties.
  • Livestock poisoning is uncommon, but records include poultry, cattle and horses; symptoms can include poor balance, staggering, vomiting and abdominal pain, and poisoning can result in death.

How it spreads

  • Numerous seeds are dispersed by wind, can float on water, and wind-blown seeds can travel up to 30 km from their source.
  • Seeds can also be spread on clothing, by animals and in fodder.
  • Living stems can spread when garden rubbish is disposed of.

Control options

  • Remove seedlings and young plants by grubbing or hand-pulling, taking care because damaged plants exude caustic milky sap.
  • Wear gloves and other personal protective equipment when handling the plant.
  • Foliar spraying can control seedlings and young plants; for larger vines or vines growing over native plants, use appropriate registered herbicides and approved methods.
  • Bag fruit and dispose of it carefully, then revisit control areas regularly and retreat regrowth; seeds can remain viable for up to five years.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Check clothing and gear after working, as seeds can be spread on clothing.
  • Do not spread seed-bearing fruit or living stems in garden rubbish; bag fruit and dispose of it carefully.
  • 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: 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.

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

Sources