Hakea spp.
Hakea
Also known as:
Prickly hakea, willow-leaved hakea
Family: Proteaceae
Origin: Australia
Regional Pest Management Plan (RPMP) status
- Whole region — Sustained control
- Hauraki Gulf Controlled Area Notice pest
General description
Large perennial shrubs or small trees. Stems are densely hairy in some species. Leaves are rigid and spiny or soft and flattened. Flowers are small, white/yellow and borne in clusters. Seeds are winged and black.
What you need to know
To help protect our environment, from 1 September 2021, you:
- will not be allowed to breed, distribute, release or sell hakea within the Auckland region.
- will not be allowed to plant hakea within the Auckland region, unless you are transferring an existing plant on your land to another location within the boundaries of the same property.
- must destroy any hakea on land that you occupy if it has been planted in breach of the above rules and you are directed to do so by an authorised person.
Habitats
Low forest, scrub, coastal habitats, disturbed sites, forest margins, gumland.
Dispersal
Seeds dispersed by wind.
Impact on environment
Dominant competitor in open sites with low fertility soil. Alters moisture regimes and vegetation succession and contributes to the local extinction of rare native ferns, orchids and shrubs. Increases fire risk.
Control
Site Management
Follow up treated areas 3 times per year. Encourage natural regeneration of native plants or replant treated areas where possible after 2-3 treatments to establish dense ground cover and minimise reinvasion.
Recommended approaches
Physical control
Method: Dig out.
Plant parts requiring disposal: Seeds.
Disposal options: Remove to greenwaste or landfill if practical
Biocontrol
Biocontrol is currently not available for this species.
Community agrichemical control recommendations
No qualifications: Cut stump and paste freshly cut base of stems with metsulfuron gel
or ringbark stem and paste with metsulfuron gel if safe to do so.
Certified Handler/Experienced agrichemical user: Drill and inject trees with 5g metsulfuron-methyl per 1L of water if safe to do so. Drill 18mm holes (tangentially angled downwards) in a spiral up the trunk. For 50mm stems drill one hole. For 100mm stems drill two holes. For larger stems drill holes 150mm apart. Foliar spray seedlings with 5g metsulfuron-methyl per 10L of water and 20ml penetrant.
Safety notes
Large trees must not be drilled that are closer than 1.5 times the height of the tree from paths, walkways and property.
Trees over 4 metres in height should be treated and then removed by a qualified arborist.
Caution: When using any herbicide or pesticide please read the label thoroughly to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.
