False tamarisk

General description

Evergreen shrub < 2 m tall. Flowers are small, pink and borne in racemes during summer.

What you need to know

To help protect our environment:

• You must not breed, distribute, release or sell false tamarisk. As false tamarisk is a National Pest Plant Accord species, these restrictions apply within the Auckland region and across the whole of New Zealand.
• You must not plant false tamarisk within the Auckland region, unless you are transferring an existing plant on your land to another location within the boundaries of the same property.
• You must destroy any false tamarisk 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

Riparian margins, braided riverbeds.

Dispersal

Seeds dispersed by wind and water.

Impact on environment

Colonises riparian margins and braided riverbeds. Reduces available habitat for nesting birds and provides cover for predators.

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: All parts.

Disposal options: Compost stems and roots in a composting weed bag or remove to greenwaste or landfill.

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.

Basic Growsafe certified: Cut stump and spray freshly cut base with 2g metsulfuron-methyl per 1 L of water.

Certified Handler/Experienced agrichemical user: Foliar spray with 5g metsulfuron-methyl per 10L of water and 20ml penetrant.