Queensland poplar

Queensland poplar leaves have a distinctive spade shape with green centres and red edges.

Description

• Shrub or small tree that can grow up to 5 metres tall.

• Leaves are 20cm long, smooth, turning red with age.

• Flowers are small and individual visible between September – November.

• Fruit is smooth, fleshy, and made up of two sections with a groove in-between.

• Seeds are dispersed by birds, gravity, water and machinery.

• Habitats include roadsides, scrubland, regenerating forest, forest gaps and margins, plantations, coastal areas, gardens, and disturbed sites.

What you need to know

Queensland poplar displaces native plant species in scrubland, regenerating bush, pine forest and coastal ecosystems.

Management approach

Queensland poplar 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, including unwanted organisms, cannot be sold or be in a place where plants are being sold. Pest plants cannot be propagated, bred, or multiplied, communicated, released, or cause to be released, or otherwise spread.

Control

Do not attempt to undertake control of Queensland poplar yourself. Report any sightings to us.