Coltsfoot

Coltsfoot is a perennial, mat-forming herb with creeping rhizomes. It outcompetes other plants in moist habitats and can be toxic to livestock and humans.

Description

• Leaves are basal, simple, deeply lobed and toothed, with a 20cm diameter.
• Flowers are yellow and less than 30cm tall before leaves appear in spring.
• Seeds dispersed by wind. Vegetative spread from rhizome fragments.
• Human-mediated dispersal through the movement of contaminated machinery and soil.
• Habitats include riverbeds, riparian margins, ditches, wetlands, gravel, roadsides, crops, and open and disturbed habitats.

What you need to know

Forms mats and may outcompete other plants in moist habitats. Competes with pasture grasses and potentially crop plants. Can be toxic to livestock and humans.

Management approach

This is a declared pest managed under the Canterbury Regional Management Plan 2018 – 2038 (PDF file, 10.6MB) within the sustained control programme.

Sustained control

Pests in the sustained control programme vary greatly in their distribution across the region. Some are found in low numbers, while others are already well-established pests.

The intention of the sustained control programme is to reduce the impact on values and spread of a pest onto neighbouring properties.

The community should make us aware of any coltsfoot plants. We will work with affected landowners to undertake control of coltsfoot.

Coltsfoot is declared an unwanted organism by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) because it is capable of causing harm to the natural environment, physical resources or human health in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

These species pose a high risk to our environment, economy, recreation, and cultural values.

Rules

Any species declared a pest cannot be sold or be in a place where plants are being sold. Pest plants cannot be propagated, bred, multiplied, communicated, released, caused to be released, or otherwise spread.

Control

Do not attempt to undertake control of coltsfoot. Please report any sightings to us.