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Tree heath (Erica arborea)

Tree heath is an introduced weed that forms dense populations in bushland and can dominate the understorey. Its oily leaves make it highly flammable, and it can increase bushfire fuel and affect native plant communities.

Key facts

Type: Weed, shrub.

Native to: Europe and Africa.

Established in: NSW, VIC, TAS, SA.

Identification

  • A dense shrub that can grow up to 5 metres tall.
  • It has tiny, needle-like leaves with a high oil content.
  • White, bell-shaped flowers, 2 to 3 mm long, appear in late winter or early spring.
  • A lignotuber at the base helps the plant resprout after fire or slashing.

Where it grows

In the Hills and Fleurieu region of South Australia, it is widely distributed through the central hills, with scattered infestations on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Why it matters

  • It invades bushland and can dominate the understorey, affecting the composition and diversity of native plant communities.
  • Its highly flammable leaves increase bushfire fuel, and the plant can resprout after fire.
  • It reduces habitat for wildlife and is unpalatable to stock.
  • It can be confused with native plants and is attractive as a cut flower.

How it spreads

  • Mature shrubs can produce millions of tiny seeds each year, starting when plants are 3 to 4 years old.
  • Seeds germinate in autumn or spring and are dispersed short distances by gravity, water, wind, slashing or soil movement.
  • Plants can resprout from the lignotuber after fire.

Control options

  • Small plants can be hand-removed, including the root, when the soil is moist; snapping them off below the soil is also effective.
  • Larger plants can be snapped below the lignotuber with a heavy mallet, using a lateral blow just above the lignotuber where the stem is thickest.
  • Registered herbicides can be used carefully with cut-and-swab, foliar-spray or drill-and-fill methods to limit off-target damage.
  • Slashing can prompt regrowth, and mature seed may be present even when herbicide treatment is effective; contact Landscapes Hills and Fleurieu for advice.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Seeds can be dispersed by slashing and soil movement.
  • 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: 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: Permitted, not declared. Listed as a permitted organism in WA, so it can be brought in, but it is not a declared pest.
  • 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: 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
  • Tasmania: Biosecurity Act 2019 (Tas), administered by Biosecurity Tasmania
  • South Australia: Landscape South Australia Act 2019 (SA), administered by the regional landscape board

Sources