Onion weed (Asphodelus fistulosus)
Onion weed is a small plant with onion-like leaves and white or pale pink flowers. It is a weed of cereal crops and arid rangelands.
Profile
How does this weed affect you?
Onion weed is native from southern Europe to India. Annual or biennial to about 70 cm tall. Leaves are onion-like, although it has no onion smell.
Onion weed produces abundant fertile seeds that can germinate most of the year, and this makes it difficult to control. Hardy weed, ignored by stock. Establishes in disturbed situations, favouring alkaline sandy soils. Now widespread and common from coast to arid inland. Weed of cereal crops and a major threat to arid rangelands.
More information
Control
Herbicide options
WARNING - ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au
See Using herbicides for more information.
PERMIT 11916 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 50 mL per 10 L of water.
Comments: Spray evenly to cover all foliage. Retreatment is essential after flowering. For use in urban bushlands, forests and coastal reserves. See permit for critical use comments.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Amitrole 250 g/L + Ammonium thiocyanate 220 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 1.1 L per 100 L of water
Comments: Active growth before flowering. Repeat treatments will be required.
Withholding period: Nil
Herbicide group: 34 (previously group Q), Inhibition of lycopene cyclase
Resistance risk: Moderate
Biosecurity duty
The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.
| Area | Duty |
|---|---|
| All of NSW | General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable. |
For technical advice and assistance with identification please contact your local council weeds officer.
Reviewed 2024
