Perennial ground cherry (Physalis longifolia)
Perennial ground cherry grows to 50 cm high and has yellow flowers with dark centres. It is a weed in cultivated areas.
Profile
How does this weed affect you?
Perennial ground cherry competes with other plants, especially crops.
What does it look like?
Perennial ground cherry is a herb up to 50 cm high. The leaves are up to 6 cm long and 2 cm wide and on stalks up to 3 cm long. Leaf margins are either smooth, slightly lobed or toothed. The flowers are short tubes with greenish yellow lobes and dark blotches in the centre. Fruit are pale green berries up to 1 cm in diameter.
Where is it found?
Perennial ground cherry has been found growing in many regions of NSW including the Riverina, Central tablelands, Central West and North West.
It is native to North America.
Maps and records
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Recorded presence of Perennial ground cherry during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2023)
These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Officers record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Records reflect the presence of the weed on the date of inspection.
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Estimated distribution of Perennial ground cherry in NSW (Map: NSW Noxious Weed Local Control Authorities, 2010)
Map shows weed distribution and density estimated by local council weeds officers in 2010.
How does it spread?
By seeds
Animals eat the fruit and spread the seed. The fruit float and the seeds can spread by water.
By plant parts
The plant can grow from pieces of root and these can be spread by cultivation.
References
PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 11 December 2020 from: http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au
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.
Dicamba 750 g/L
(Kamba® 750)
Rate: 5.9 L/ha. Use a minimum of 1500 L of solution per ha. Add a surfactant.
Comments: Boom spray for non-crop situations. Spray prior to flowering.
Withholding period: Do not harvest, graze or cut for stock food for 7 days after application.
Herbicide group: I, Disruptors of plant cell growth (synthetic auxins)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Dicamba 750 g/L
(Kamba® 750)
Rate: 400 mL per 100 L of water. Add a surfactant.
Comments: Spray prior to flowering. For non crop situations.
Withholding period: Do not harvest, graze or cut for stock food for 7 days after application.
Herbicide group: I, Disruptors of plant cell growth (synthetic auxins)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Dicamba 750 g/L
(Kamba® 750)
Rate: 87 mL per 15 L of water. Add a surfactant.
Comments: Spot spray prior to flowering. For non-crop situations.
Withholding period: Do not harvest, graze or cut for stock food for 7 days after application.
Herbicide group: I, Disruptors of plant cell growth (synthetic auxins)
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 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. |
| Murray |
Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Containment)
Land managers should mitigate the risk of new weeds being introduced to their land. Plant should not be bought, sold, grown, carried or released into the environment. Notify local control authority if found. |
| Riverina |
Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication)
Land managers should mitigate the risk of new weeds being introduced to their land. The plant should be eradicated from the land and the land kept free of the plant. The plant should not be bought, sold, grown, carried or released into the environment. Notify local control authority if found. |
| *To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here |
For technical advice and assistance with identification please contact your local council weeds officer.
For further information call the NSW DPI Biosecurity Helpline on 1800 680 244 or send an email to weeds@dpi.nsw.gov.au
For further information call the NSW DPI Biosecurity Helpline on 1800 680 244 or send an email to weeds@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Reviewed 2021
