Athel pine (Tamarix aphylla)

Also known as: athel tree, tamarisk

Athel pine is a spreading tree with drooping branches and pinkish-white flowers. It outcompetes native plants and pastures and forms dense stands.

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How does this weed affect you?

Athel pine trees can:

• outcompete native plants
• reduce habitat for native animals
• compete with pasture plants reducing productivity
• consume water faster than native plants, reducing water availability and quality in watering holes
• excrete salts from the leaves making the soil below too salty for pasture and native plants
• do not burn easily, therefore decrease fire frequency and hinder native plants that are adapted to fire
• reduce the cultural and aesthetic value of land.

Dense stands of athel pine trees can

• make mustering difficult
• restrict access to watering points
• change river flow patterns
• cause overland flooding
• cause bank erosion.

What does it look like?

Athel pine is an evergreen spreading tree that grows to 15 m tall. The foliage is greyish green and the branches droop.

Leaves are:

• bluish green or greyish green
• scale-like
• 1–2 mm long
• alternate along thin cylindrical branchlets.

Branchlets:

• are pendulous and jointed
• are bluish-green or greyish green
• look like pine needles.

Flowers are:

• pinkish white with 5 petals
• 2 mm long
• on 3–4 cm long spikes
• present in summer.

Fruit are:

• a capsule with many seeds
• 2–3 mm long
• bell-shaped with a hairy tuft.

Seeds:

• are cylindrical
• have a tuft of fine hairs.

Trunks are:

• light grey when young
• dark grey to greyish brown  or black with deeply furrowed bark when mature
• up to 1 m in diameter.

Roots are:

• woody and strong
• deep.

Similar looking plants

Athel pine looks similar to:

• salt cedar or tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima), which is also a weed. It is smaller (up to 6 m), deciduous or semi-deciduous and has pink to purple flowers.
• native she-oaks (Casuarina and Allocasuarina species), which have longer leaf segments (5–10 mm) and larger fruit that look like small pinecones.

Where is it found?

In NSW, athel pine grows in the Western, Central West, Riverina and Murray regions. There are many infestations around Broken Hill.

Athel pine is native to India, the Mediterranean and northern Africa. Plants were brought to Australia for shade, windbreaks, and erosion control.

What type of environment does it grow in?

Athel pine grows in arid, semi-arid, warm temperate and subtropical climates. Trees grow best in light or medium loams and are very tolerant of saline and alkaline soils. They prefer full sun and are drought tolerant. Most trees grow along waterways, though they also have been found in native grass lands, pastures, open woodlands and along roadsides.

Maps and records

• Recorded presence of Athel pine during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2026)
  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.
  
  

How does it spread?

By seed

Athel pine trees start producing seeds when they are 3 years old. Trees can produce thousands of seeds each year. Seeds are only viable for a short time, usually no more than 3 months.

Seeds are spread by wind, water, especially floods and animals including birds.

By plant parts

Athel pine can spread slowly by suckering. Broken stems and root fragments can produce new shoots. These fragments can move downstream in floodwaters.

References

CRC for Australian Weed Management (2003) Weeds of national Significance Weed Management Guide: Athel pine or tamarisk (Tamarix aphylla). CRC Weed Management. Adelaide, South Australia.

Hoddenbach, G. (1982). Tamarix control. In Special Report, (9), Tamarisk Control in Southwestern United States 1987. p 116-125.

Identic Pty. Ltd and Lucid (2016). Weeds of Australia Fact Sheet: Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst. Retrieved 1 October 2024 from: https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/tamarix_aphylla.htm

Parsons, W.T., & Cuthbertson, E. G. (2001). Noxious weeds of Australia. CSIRO publishing.

PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 26 September 2024 from:

Richardson, F. J., Richardson, R. G., & Shepherd, R. C. H. (2011). Weeds of the south-east: an identification guide for Australia (No. Ed. 3). CSIRO

More information

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Control

Successful weed control relies on follow up after the initial efforts. This means looking for and killing regrowth or new seedlings. Using a combination of control methods is usually more successful.

Clearing any vegetation along waterways may require consent before any work begins. Contact NSW Local Land Services for advice on the required approvals for your site.

Prevention

Plant native species instead of athel pine for windbreaks, shade or erosion control.

Physical removal

By hand

Hand pull or dig out small seedlings in sandy soil.

By machine

Large trees can be removed by ripping and bulldozing. Remove as much of the root system as possible. If possible the area should be deep ripped to bring any root material to the surface.  

Plant pasture species to suppress regrowth where appropriate. Reduce the amount of soil covering felled stems and exposed roots as they may re-shoot. Follow-up treatments will be required as some re-shooting is likely.

Chemical control

Spraying

Spraying is effective on small trees less than 2 m. Spray actively growing plants and ensure all of the foliage is covered.

Basal barking

Use basal bark application for plants with stems up to 5 cm diameter at the base. Spray or paint the herbicide mixture around the base of each stem from ground level up to a height of at least 30 cm from the ground. Wet the bark to the point of runoff. Rough bark will require more herbicide than smooth or young thin bark. Do not apply to wet stems as this can repel the diesel or kerosine. 

Cut stump method

Cut the trunks or stems close to the ground. Apply herbicide within 15 seconds.

Stem injection

Stem injection is suitable for large trees. Make a series of cuts or drill holes low on the trunk. They need to be all the way around the trunk to penetrate the sapwood below the bark. Inject herbicide into each cut or hole within 15 seconds.

Herbicide options

See Using herbicides for more information.

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Fluroxypyr 200 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 35 mL per L diesel/kerosene
Comments: Basal bark
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock feed for 7 days after application. See label for further information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Fluroxypyr 333 g/L (Starane™ Advanced)
Rate: 21 mL per L diesel/kerosene
Comments: Basal bark
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock food for 7 days after application. See label for more information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 1.5 parts water
Comments: Cut stump or stem injection.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L with Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 1:1.5 (ratio glyphosate to water) plus 1 g metsulfuron to 1 L water
Comments: Stem injection
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Picloram 100 g/L + Triclopyr 300 g/L + Aminopyralid 8 g/L (Grazon® Extra)
Rate: Undiluted
Comments: Cut stump application: Apply a 3–5 mm layer of gel for stems less than 20 mm. Apply 5 mm layer on stems above 20 mm.
Withholding period: Where product is used to control woody weeds in pastures there is a restriction of 12 weeks for use of treated pastures for making hay and silage; using hay or other plant material for compost, mulch or mushroom substrate; or using animal waste from animals grazing on treated pastures for compost, mulching, or spreading on pasture/crops.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the NSW 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.
All of NSW	Prohibition on certain dealings Must not be imported into the state, sold, bartered, exchanged or offered for sale.
Central West	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant. 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

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Reviewed 2025