{"id":10246,"date":"2025-11-25T00:18:50","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T00:18:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/?p=10246"},"modified":"2025-12-04T04:23:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T04:23:54","slug":"wild-tobacco-bush","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/wild-tobacco-bush\/","title":{"rendered":"Know Your Weeds: Wild Tobacco Bush"},"content":{"rendered":"[mk_page_section bg_image=”https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/wild-tobacco-banner.jpg” bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_stretch=”true” enable_3d=”true” min_height=”500″ js_vertical_centered=”true” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” section_id=”donate” el_class=”donate-1″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”70px”][mk_fancy_title font_family=”none” align=”center”]BIOSECURITY RISKS OF THE WET TROPICS[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider size=”67″][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section section_id=”great-1″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1563789112768{padding-right: 36px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}” el_class=”great_header_left”][mk_padding_divider size=”100″ visibility=”hidden-nb”][mk_padding_divider size=”15″ visibility=”visible-sm”][mk_padding_divider visibility=”visible-tl”][mk_fancy_title size=”28″ letter_spacing=”4″ margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”none” el_class=”terrain-title-2″]WILD TOBACCO BUSH ALERT FOR THE TABLELANDS[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider size=”60″ visibility=”hidden-nb”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″ visibility=”visible-nb”][vc_column_text el_class=”sub-head” css=”.vc_custom_1763944863199{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]24 NOVEMBER 2025[\/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider size=”5″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1764717845498{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The community is being urged to act to reduce spread of toxic Wild Tobacco Bush (Solanum mauritianum) across the Tablelands.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wild Tobacco Bush is an invasive weed, introduced to Australia in the 1940s. It is continuing to spread across the Tablelands, posing risks to people, livestock, native wildlife and local ecosystems.<\/p>\n

Wild Tobacco Bush is different to commercial tobacco, though they\u2019re from the same family.<\/p>\n

The fast-growing shrub\u2014reaching up to four metres\u2014produces fruit that is readily eaten by birds and bats, helping the plant spread rapidly across disturbed areas such as roadsides, fence lines, pastures and rainforest edges. Once established, Wild Tobacco Bush forms dense thickets that out-compete native trees and dominate the landscape.<\/p>\n

The weed can also harbour paralysis ticks, and its leaves and sap are toxic to humans and animals. The fine hairs on the leaves can cause irritation, and ingestion of plant material may lead to illness in livestock.<\/p>\n

Terrain NRM has been working in partnership with Tablelands Regional Council and the Tablelands Yidinji and Ngadjon peoples to manage this weed on private properties across Yungaburra, Tolga and Malanda \u2014 an identified hotspot with extensive infestations. Significant areas were mapped in the southern Tablelands last year, and more than 4,000 wild tobacco plants were treated.<\/p>\n

Terrain NRM Project Coordinator Evizel Seymour urged the community to stay alert and take action early.<\/p>\n

\u201cWild tobacco spreads quickly, so early treatment is essential,\u201d she said. \u201cIf you have small bushes in your garden, wear protective clothing \u2014 including covering your arms, hands and mouth \u2014 as some people react to the fine hairs on the plant. Effective control methods include mechanical removal of young plants, cut-and-paste treatment, basal bark application or foliar spraying.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms Seymour encouraged landholders with large or dense infestations to seek support.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor bigger patches, it\u2019s best to contact Council or Terrain NRM so the area can be assessed and managed safely and effectively,\u201d she said.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1764822230132{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]This project is funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and delivered by Terrain NRM, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1563789122720{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 34px !important;}” el_class=”great_header_right”][mk_padding_divider size=”206″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_padding_divider size=”50″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_padding_divider size=”50″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1763945886505{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\"wild[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1763945716528{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\"\"[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1764717999673{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]RESOURCES:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Check out your Local Government\u2019s Biosecurity Plan, available through your Council\u2019s website.<\/p>\n

Refer to the Queensland Government Pest Factsheet for Wild Tobacco for detailed control information and herbicide rates.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Download this factsheet<\/a> about woody weeds in the Wet Tropics<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section el_class=”grean-btn-sec” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][mk_padding_divider size=”47″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_button dimension=”outline” url=”https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/biosecurity-risks\/” align=”right” el_class=”green-btn” outline_skin=”custom” outline_active_color=”#175137″ outline_active_text_color=”#ffffff” outline_hover_bg_color=”#175137″ outline_hover_color=”#ffffff”]Read More[\/mk_button][mk_padding_divider size=”100″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section section_id=”great-1-blog” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][mk_padding_divider size=”105″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_fancy_title size=”28″ letter_spacing=”4″ margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”none” align=”right” el_class=”terrain-title”]RELATED NEWS[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider visibility=”hidden-sm”][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][vc_row fullwidth=”true” fullwidth_content=”false” id=”post_grid_filter_1″][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”grid_greate_3″ css=”.vc_custom_1743711316392{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\n

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