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Wild sage (Cordia curassavica)

Wild sage is an introduced shrub of concern because it can form dense thickets that crowd out other vegetation. It can also hinder access and compete with young crops and plantation trees.

Key facts

Type: Weed, shrub.

Native to: Southern Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and much of South America.

Established in: .

Other names: Black sage, Cordia macrostachya, Varronia curassavica.

Best time to act: Search for the conspicuous red fruits and treat plants before they fruit where possible, then revisit for regrowth.

Identification

  • A multi-stemmed shrub that can grow to about 3 metres tall.
  • Leaves grow alternately along the stems and are rough to touch, oval to lance-shaped, and finely toothed at the edges.
  • Small cream-white flowers grow in dense clusters.
  • The plant bears fleshy red fruits, each containing one seed.
  • Look-alike: Other Cordia species can look similar; check the combination of rough, toothed leaves, clustered pale flowers and red fruits.

Where it grows

Where present in Australia, look for it in warm regions in disturbed ground, roadsides and open thickets, in damp or dry sites.

Why it matters

  • Dense stands can crowd out native and other vegetation.
  • Thickets can make access through infested areas difficult.
  • In production areas, it can compete with young crops and plantation trees and reduce their growth.

How it spreads

  • Birds eat the fleshy fruits and disperse viable seeds.
  • The shrub can regrow rapidly after slashing or herbicide injury, so incomplete treatment can leave plants persisting.

Control options

  • Hand-pull seedlings and small plants, removing the roots where practical.
  • For larger shrubs, use an appropriate cut-stump treatment with a herbicide registered for the target and site, and follow the product label.
  • Remove and contain fruiting material so it is not spread, and dispose of it in accordance with local requirements.
  • Revisit treated areas to check for regrowth and new seedlings; report suspected infestations to the relevant state or territory biosecurity agency.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Clean boots, tools and machinery to remove seeds and soil before leaving an infested site.
  • Do not transport fruiting branches or contaminated soil to clean areas.
  • 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): National priority exotic pest. On the National Priority List of Exotic Environmental Pests, Weeds and Diseases, so any new detection should be reported straight away.
  • 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: Not listed. Not found in the Western Australian Organism List. Check with DPIRD before moving or keeping it.
  • 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.

Sources