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Plume poppy (Bocconia frutescens)

In NSW, plume poppy has been recorded near Taree and on the Central Coast. It can form dense infestations and outcompete native plants, as well as plants in eucalyptus plantations and orchards.

Key facts

Type: Weed, shrub.

Native to: Central and South America and the West Indies.

Established in: NSW.

Identification

  • It is a branched shrub or small tree up to 6 m tall, often with multiple trunks.
  • Its large, deeply lobed leaves are green above and whitish beneath, and can reach 90 cm long.
  • The purplish to greenish flowers have no petals and grow in dense clusters of up to 2,000.
  • Its oval capsules are grey when mature and contain a single seed; the shiny black seeds have a red fleshy covering at one end.

Where it grows

In NSW, it has been recorded near Taree in the Hunter Region and as a single plant on the Central Coast; the known sites have been destroyed and are being monitored.

Why it matters

  • It can form dense infestations.
  • It outcompetes native plants.
  • It competes with plants in eucalyptus plantations and orchards.

How it spreads

  • A single plant can produce more than 300,000 seeds per year.
  • Seeds can survive in soil for decades and are spread by birds and water.

Control options

  • Do not plant ornamental Bocconia species.
  • Small plants can be pulled out by hand because they are shallow rooted.
  • For larger plants, cut stems low to the ground and apply herbicide gel to the stump promptly, using registered herbicides according to the label.
  • Collect and burn fruit at a site that can be inspected for seedlings, or ask the local council weeds officer for disposal advice.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Do not move soil that could be contaminated with plume poppy seeds.
  • 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: Regional priority in 1 of 11 regions. Regional priority weed in Hunter. 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: Declared pest (C1), prohibited. C1 Exclusion: to be kept out of WA, or out of the parts of WA where it is not established. Report any sighting to DPIRD. It must not be brought into WA (prohibited organism).
  • 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.

  • New South Wales: Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Sources