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Winter heath (Erica carnea)

Winter heath is one of 17 Erica species declared weeds in Tasmania, where its importation, sale and distribution are prohibited. Erica species can escape cultivation and become environmental or pasture weeds, with dense infestations replacing native plants and increasing fire hazard.

Key facts

Type: Weed, shrub.

Native to: Central and southern Europe, including the Alps..

Established in: ACT.

Other names: Spring heath, Alpine heath, Winter-flowering heath.

Best time to act: Look for winter heath in winter and spring when it flowers, and control plants before flowering to reduce the risk of seed spread.

Identification

  • A low, spreading evergreen shrub, usually around 10 to 30 centimetres tall.
  • Its woody stems carry small, narrow, needle-like leaves, usually in whorls.
  • Pink, purple or white bell-shaped flowers grow in clusters and are especially noticeable in winter and spring.
  • After flowering, small capsules contain numerous seeds.
  • Look-alike: Native Australian heaths can look similar, but many have five petals and stiff leaves arranged alternately rather than in whorls or opposite pairs.

Where it grows

Erica species in southern Australia occur in higher-rainfall areas, including heathland, forest, woodland, drainage lines and coastal vegetation, and are often associated with disturbed ground.

Why it matters

  • Dense Erica infestations can replace native species and alter the composition and diversity of plant communities.
  • In pasture, Erica can reduce productivity.
  • Erica is extremely combustible and can increase fire hazard.

How it spreads

  • It reproduces by seed and can also spread by stem layering, when stems touching moist soil develop roots.
  • Seeds can move by wind and water, and in soil or mud, including through slashing and vehicle movement.
  • Long-distance spread can result from garden planting, commercial cultivation or transport of seed-bearing soil.

Control options

  • Hand-pull or dig out seedlings and small plants, removing as much of the root system as possible; dispose of material by burning where appropriate or piling it where stems cannot layer.
  • Use only herbicides registered for Erica in the relevant state or territory, and follow the product label and local directions.
  • Follow up control to deal with regrowth and seedlings; a single treatment is not sufficient.
  • Do not slash flowering plants or rely on slashing or burning to eradicate Erica; in Tasmania, contact Biosecurity Tasmania for identification or control advice.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Clean soil, mud and plant material from boots, vehicles and machinery before leaving an infested site.
  • Avoid moving potentially contaminated soil or mud to clean areas, and use appropriate washdown procedures for equipment and personnel.
  • 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: 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.

  • Australian Capital Territory: Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT), administered by ACT Biosecurity

Sources