Heather (Calluna vulgaris)
Heather varies from low-lying mats to upright bushes and dwarf trees. It is an invasive weed which threatens alpine country.
Profile
How does this weed affect you?
Also known as red heath, Scotch heather or ling, heather grows on poor undeveloped grassland on acid soils, and prefers frost flats, scrub and higher tussock grasslands where the winters are cold. Although heather seedlings are very small and easily outcompeted by grasses, as a mature plant it forms a dense canopy which can reduce species diversity in sensitive open upland habitats.
Where is it found?
It is a major weed in many overseas regions, including the World Heritage Tongariro National Park in New Zealand where it is the most widespread exotic weed, and throughout North America. In Australia it has been deliberately planted in gardens and for erosion control, but so far has only naturalised in Tasmania.
How does it spread?
Heather mainly reproduces by seed. Each plant can produce several thousand flowers and tens of thousands of seeds, with seed production potentially reaching one million seeds per square metre. The tiny seeds can remain viable for extended periods, up to 100 years, and are spread by wind, animals or walkers brushing against the plants. Seeds rarely germinate without exposure to light, and germination increases when seeds are heat treated. Vegetative reproduction can also take place via a process known as layering, where branches in contact with moist soil can take root and form new plants. Heather also resprouts from surviving stem bases after fire.
What does it look like?
Heather varies from low-lying mat-like forms to upright ball-shaped bushes and dwarf trees, depending on its environment. It generally grows 0.5– 1.25 m tall and is an evergreen perennial shrub with woody, pliable stems. Young growth is initially densely hairy but the plant becomes hairless later.
Small, stalkless leaves grow in four vertical rows along the branches. The leaves are oblong, up to 3.5 mm long and occasionally downy. They are initially dark green and later turn brown.
It has bell-shaped flowers, comprising four petals joined into a tube about 2 mm in diameter. The flowers are generally pale purple although pink – and white-flowered plants also occur. The flowers grow on narrow leafy stalks up to 90 mm long, which occur on the upper shoots.
The tiny seeds (0.7 mm long by 0.5 mm wide) are contained in small, hairy, round capsules which are made up of four compartments.
What type of environment does it grow in?
Heather occurs in heathlands, woodlands and above the tree line. It can colonise up to altitudes of 1500 m and is thus a serious threat to Australia’s alpine country. It is extremely frost hardy and tolerates waterlogging – it is found in wet bog communities. It is not a threat to improved pastures but could be a problem in alpine grazing lands. It does not tolerate shade and exhibits lower shoot production and reduced flowering in shaded conditions.
Acknowledgements
CRC for Australian Weed Management: Andy Sheppard (CSIRO/Weeds CRC), Nigel Ainsworth (DPI Vic/Weeds CRC), Paul Peterson (NZ Landcare Research), Linda Iaconis (DPI Vic) and John Thorp (National Weeds Management Facilitator).
More information
Control
Because there are relatively few heather infestations, and it can potentially be eradicated before it becomes established, any new outbreaks should be reported immediately to your local council weed officer. Do not try to control it without their expert assistance. Control effort that is poorly performed or not followed up can actually help spread the weed and worsen the problem.
Methods
Because research has been limited, little is known about successful control methods for Heather. Most traditional methods are generally considered inadequate and too expensive. Any attempted control of Heather should be undertaken cooperatively with your local weed officer. Ongoing follow-up monitoring and control will be required to manage the long-lived seedbank.
Physical control
It is hard to pull or dig Heather because of its fibrous root system. Pieces of roots tend to break off and regrow. Pulling out the plants generally loosens the soil and releases large quantities of seeds, ensuring that Heather is usually the first plant to return. Frequent slashing encourages resprouting and will not kill plants.
Grazing
Intense sheep grazing pressure, especially in spring, will suppress new growth and flowering and may eventually eliminate Heather after a number of years. Large mature plants may have to be slashed first to give sheep access to new shoots. Light grazing will not be helpful.
Herbicide
In New Zealand herbicide is used to kill Heather. However, there are currently no herbicides registered for use in Australia. Contact your state or territory weed management agency for up-todate advice.
Fire
Fire helps spread the plant as it requires high temperature for seed germination. In the United Kingdom controlled burning is used to rejuvenate older plants, which resprout following fire, especially if less than 15 years old. In established populations regular fires will actually favour the continued dominance of Heather – therefore fire is not recommended as a control method.
Biological control
The heather beetle Lochmaea suturalis, a natural predator of Heather in the United Kingdom, was released in New Zealand in 1996 but has had limited success so far. Trials in New Zealand are investigating integrated management using herbicides and biological control. Because biological methods are slow-acting processes allowing ongoing control rather than eradication, it is not envisaged that they will be used in the management of Heather in Australia, where the weed is targeted for eradication.
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 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Fluroxypyr 200 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 500 mL to 1 L per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray
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
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Fluroxypyr 333 g/L
(Starane™ Advanced)
Rate: 300 to 600 mL per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray
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
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: One part product to 50 parts water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: One part product to 9 parts water
Comments: Splatter gun
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: One part product to 20 parts water
Comments: Wipe onto leaves
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg
(Various products)
Rate: 10 - 20 g per 100 L water plus surfactant
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg
(Various products)
Rate: 10 g per 1 L of water plus surfactant
Comments: Wipe onto leaves
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High
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 2018
