Tree lucerne

Tree lucerne is an evergreen tree around 6m tall with white, pea-like flowers occurring in late autumn to early spring. It outcompetes native plants and prevents seedling establishment.

Description

• Leaves have three leaflets that are grey-green that have pale undersides, similar to lucerne.
• Seeds pods are pea-like and contain shiny black seeds.
• Seedlings appear under parent trees after four years.
• Lives for 20-30 years on well-drained sites and fixes nitrogen in the soil with an extensive root system.
• Dispersal by birds and gravity. Human-induced dispersal by intentional plantings and plant sales.
• Habitats include shrublands, forest edges, grasslands, and coastal areas.

What you need to know

Fast growing, aggressively spreads and forms dense stands, outcompeting native plants. It can also alter changing soil chemistry, reducing seeding establishment. Has been used to reduce erosion in some areas and is palatable to stock.

Management approach

Community Led

These organisms have not been legally declared as pests but may be of interest to the public as they occur regularly in the environment. They may be capable of causing adverse effects to the values of Waitaha/Canterbury.

Consider removing this invasive species from your property and consult your local council for appropriate disposal. Consider lower-risk alternatives for your garden, such as native plants.

Control

Site management

Follow up treated areas three times per year. Encourage natural regeneration of native plants or replant treated areas where possible after two to three treatments to establish dense ground cover and minimise reinvasion.

Physical control

Dig or pull small plants out.

Plant parts requiring disposal: pods, seeds and roots.

Contact your local council for appropriate disposal locations.

Chemical control

Herbicide products that may be used contain glyphosate, picloram or triclopyr.

For medium-sized saplings <10cm in diameter, cut and paste close to the ground.

For trees use, drilling and stem injection below the lowest branches at a 45° angle into the sapwood in around 2cm intervals around the entire trunk.

Caution: When using any herbicide please read the label thoroughly to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.

Biological control

Biological control is currently not available for this species.