{"id":9335,"date":"2025-05-08T06:10:46","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T06:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/?p=9335"},"modified":"2025-09-09T06:21:57","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T06:21:57","slug":"stevia-ovata-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/stevia-ovata-control\/","title":{"rendered":"Controlling Stevia ovata"},"content":{"rendered":"[mk_page_section bg_image=”https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/gilbey-forest.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”]REDUCING INVASIVE WEEDS[\/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″]FINDING STEVIA OVATA BEFORE IT FLOWERS AND SPREADS…[\/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_1746684747213{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]11\u00a0 MAY 2025[\/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider size=”5″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1747024838503{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The countdown is on to find the invasive weed Stevia ovata before flowering season on the Atherton Tablelands \u2013 the time of year when its seeds spread on the wind.<\/p>\n

Terrain NRM and Tablelands Regional Council have been working together to remove this weed, which is also known as candyleaf, from 250 hectares of land on roadsides, along powerlines, on private properties and forests in the Ravenshoe and Herberton areas.<\/p>\n

250 hectares of control work<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOver two years, most of the known infestation areas have been treated,\u2019\u2019 Terrain NRM\u2019s Evizel Seymour says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis weed is not as mobile as more aggressive species like Siam weed. Its seeds remain viable for only about 18 months, and it doesn\u2019t spread easily to new areas. As a result, infestations have so far been contained to known locations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis presents a critical opportunity\u2014now is the time to stay vigilant and act decisively to keep the upper hand.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stopping its spread on the Atherton Tablelands<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stevia ovata is currently only found on the Atherton Tablelands, in the Ravenshoe and Herbertson areas. Left uncontrolled, it can impact grazing land and natural vegetation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was first found in this region in 2007. The growing season is February to May with a flowering season from the end of May through June,\u2019\u2019 Evizel says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best time to control Stevia ovata is before it flowers. By July to August the top of the plant dies off naturally but the bottom can re-shoot with moisture and the problem continues unless it is being controlled.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spraying and pulling out by hand<\/strong><\/p>\n

Control work has been spraying with herbicides and pulling the weed out by hand.<\/p>\n

Terrain NRM secured funding through the Queensland Government\u2019s Queensland Feral Pest Initiative to follow on from earlier Stevia ovata control work by partnering with Tablelands Regional Council to work with landholders and others including Ergon Energy, Powerlink, Clean Co and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.<\/p>\n

The project also included community engagement work at events in the region, at stakeholder meetings and through the installation of two roadside signs about Stevia ovata \u2013on Wooroora Rd and Tully Falls Rd which are in the main infestation areas.[\/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”][mk_padding_divider size=”5″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1747023078338{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\"\"[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1747022775012{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]How you can help<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you think you have Stevia ovata (candy leaf) on your property, or you have seen it in the region, or you want to know more about this invasive weed, contact Tablelands Regional Council at info@trc.qld.gov.au, by phoning 1300 362 242 or visiting the customer service centre.<\/p>\n

STEVIA OVATA (CANDY LEAF): FAST FACTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Native to tropical America, it was first found in Australia, on the Atherton Tablelands, in 2007. This is the only place it has been found in Australia. It\u2019s a category 3 restricted invasive plant under the Queensland Government\u2019s Biosecurity Act 2014.<\/p>\n

Stevia ovata can form dense stands of vegetation, can rapidly colonise open, disturbed habitats and has potential to replace native plants and pasture.<\/p>\n

The plant is usually 50cm-100cm tall but it can grow up to 3m tall with some plants having over 30 stems and a large, strong rootball. It has white or light pink flowers in May-June. Its leaves are arranged in mostly opposite pairs along the stem, but sometimes alternately.<\/p>\n

It grows across a range of habitats on the Atherton Tablelands at the higher altitudes including open woodlands, native pastures and disturbed sites like roadsides and under powerlines.<\/p>\n

Seeds can spread on the wind, in water, on machinery and animals.[\/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\/what-we-do\/biodiversity\/cassowary-credit-scheme\/” 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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