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Silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium)

A deep-rooted perennial that invades cropping and pasture land in southern and eastern Australia. Small root pieces regrow, so cultivation often spreads it.

Key facts

Type: Weed, herb.

Native to: The Americas.

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

Identification

  • Upright perennial herb to 80 cm with silvery, hairy leaves with wavy edges.
  • Stems often with small, straight orange-red prickles.
  • Purple to blue star-shaped flowers with yellow centres, followed by yellow to orange marble-sized berries.

Where it grows

Cropping land, pasture, roadsides and stock yards.

Why it matters

  • Reduces crop yields and pasture.
  • Toxic to stock in large amounts.

How it spreads

  • Root fragments spread by cultivation and machinery.
  • Seed in hay, grain, stock and floodwater.

Control options

  • Prevent seed set with registered herbicides, often over several years.
  • Avoid cultivating infestations.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Clean tillage equipment of soil and root fragments after working infested paddocks.
  • 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): Weed of National Significance. One of 32 nationally agreed priority weeds, managed through national strategies with all states and territories.
  • Queensland: Restricted matter, category 3. Do not give it away, sell or release it into the environment. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: Sale prohibited; Regional priority in 7 of 11 regions. It must not be imported into NSW or sold anywhere in the state. Regional priority weed in Central Tablelands, Hunter, Murray, North West, Northern Tablelands, South East, Western. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Regionally controlled / regionally prohibited / regionally restricted weed (varies by region). Where it is regionally prohibited, landowners must take all reasonable steps to eradicate it on their land. Where it is regionally controlled, landowners must take all reasonable steps to prevent its growth and spread on their land. Where it is a restricted weed, trade in it (including the plant, its seed or contaminated material) is prohibited.
  • South Australia: Declared plant. Depending on the declaration, it can be an offence to move it on public roads or sell it, and landowners may be required to control it on their land.
  • Western Australia: Declared pest (no control category). Declared pest in WA without a control category, so there is no state-wide control requirement, but movement and keeping rules can still apply.
  • 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: Declared pest, notifiable, prohibited. It is a declared pest throughout the ACT. You must report it to ACT Biosecurity. 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
  • 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
  • Western Australia: Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (WA), administered by the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Sources