Cabomba is a submerged water weed with small white to yellow flowers above the water surface. It chokes water bodies and degrades water quality.
This plant is a Weed of National Significance
This plant is a water weed
This plant must not be sold anywhere in NSW
Dense underwater stands of cabomba can:
Cabomba is completely submerged except for its flowers and occasional floating leaves.
There are two types of leaves, submerged and floating.
Submerged leaves are:
There are usually only a few, if any, leaves that float on the surface. They are:
Severe infestations are on the NSW far north coast in the upper catchments of the Richmond River and the Burringbar Creek system. There are other infestations in on the North Coast at:
Plants have also been found at:
Cabomba could invade most waterways in eastern, central and southern NSW.
Cabomba is native to South America.
Cabomba grows in warm-temperate, humid climates with temperatures 13° to 27°C. Though it can survive in water underneath ice. It grows well in:
It can grow on the edges of deeper water bodies or faster moving waterways.
Cabomba does not grow as well:
Any stem fragment with a node can grow into a new plant. Stems break easily. Fragments can be as small as 1 cm. Water moves floating fragments into new areas. Fishing equipment, watercraft and animals can also move fragments.
In autumn and winter the stems sink. They either:
So far the only cabomba to produce viable seed in Australia is in the Darwin River in the Northern Territory. Reasons for this are unclear.
CRC for Australian Weed Management (2003) Weed Management Guide: Cabomba (Cabomba caroliniana).
Inkson, T., Petroeschevsky, A., Officer, D. and Schmitzer, T. (2013). Cabomba Control Case Study 2011-2013, Mid North Coast Weeds Coordinating Committee, Great Lakes Council, Forster.
Mackey, A. P. and Swarbrick, J. T. (1998). Cabomba caroliniana, Gray. In Biology of Australian weeds, Volume 2, RG and FJ Richardson, Melbourne.
PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 24 January 2020 from: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Cabomba~caroliniana
Schooler. S., Cabrere-Walsh, W. and Julien, M. (2009) Cabomba caroliniana, Gray (Cabombaceae). In R. Muniappan et al. (eds) Biological control of tropical weeds using arthropods, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 88–107.
Successful weed control relies on follow up after the initial efforts. This means regularly looking for any new plants or plant fragments and controlling them. Using a combination of control methods is usually more successful.
To tackle cabomba:
Early detection is important in managing cabomba. Once established cabomba is extremely difficult to control.
Draining or lowering water levels works in smaller dams or retention ponds. Expose stems and leaves until they, and the substrate beneath, are completely dry. Ensure cabomba is not spread to other areas in the drained water.
Use builder’s black plastic to cover cabomba. Maintain in place for 3–4 months.
Hand weed small infestations or regrowth. Wade into shallow water and pull up plants by the roots. In deeper water SCUBA divers can use hand-held suction hoses to remove plants. Collect fragments that break off the plants.
Aquatic weed harvesters can suppress an infestation, and keep the upper part of the water free of weed. The harvesters cut cabomba back from the surface, but the roots and stems remain. Treatments need to be frequent, as cabomba can regrow to uncut levels in as little as a few weeks.
An aquatic weevil (Hydrotimetes natans) has been identified as a potential biological control agent for cabomba. It’s host range is currently being tested in quarantine for introduction to Australia.
Carfentrazone-ethyl can control cabomba with 1–3 treatments in a 12 month period. It may take 9 months for the plants to die. Carfentrazone-ethyl is a contact herbicide. It works by attacking the fats and proteins of plant cell membranes. It does not translocate through a plant. The herbicide needs to reach a concentration of 2 parts per million in the treated area.
Do not treat more than 50% of a waterbody at one time.
Apply:
Do not apply:
See Using herbicides for more information.
Carfentrazone-ethyl 240 g/L
(Shark⢠Aquatic Herbicide)
Rate: 830 mL per 100,000 L water [2 ppm (2 mg/L) carfentrazone-ethyl]
Comments: Non-flowing water bodies. Apply onto the surface or below the surface where cabomba is growing. The intention is to achieve a concentration of 2 ppm (2 mg/L) carfentrazone-ethyl in the water where cabomba is growing. Refer to the label for nozzle requirements. Do not apply to more than 50% of the volume of the water body in a single application. Do not apply subsequent application to the waterbody within 3 months. Retreatments of heavy infestations may be required.
Withholding period: Not required when used as directed.
Herbicide group: 14 (previously group G), Inhibition of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO inhibitors)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Flumioxazin 15 grams /tablet
(Clipper herbicide®)
Rate: 1 tablet for every 37.5 cubic metres of water to achieve 400 parts per billion.
Comments: For use on dense or established weed populations in enclosed water bodies, deeper than 0.5 m and larger than 37.5 cubic metres, or margins of larger, still water bodies. Throw tablets directly into the water to achieve uniform distribution of the herbicide. Alternatively, if weeds grow in clusters, concentrate the tablet application on the densest areas. See label for restrictions.
Withholding period: 14 days before using treated water to irrigate food crops. See label for withholding periods for other uses of treated water.
Herbicide group: 14 (previously group G), Inhibition of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO inhibitors)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Flumioxazin 15 grams /tablet
(Clipper herbicide®)
Rate: 1 tablet for every 75 cubic metres of water to achieve 200 parts per billion.
Comments: For use on low density, establishing or re-establishing weeds in enclosed water bodies, deeper than 0.5 m and larger than 37.5 cubic metres, or margins of larger, still water bodies. Throw tablets directly into the water to achieve uniform distribution of the herbicide. Alternatively, if weeds grow in clusters, concentrate the tablet application on the densest areas. See label for restrictions.
Withholding period: 14 days before using treated water to irrigate food crops. See label for withholding periods for other uses of treated water.
Herbicide group: 14 (previously group G), Inhibition of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO inhibitors)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Flumioxazin 15 grams /tablet
(Clipper herbicide®)
Rate: Inject solution into water body. 1 tablet per 37.5 cubic metres. Each tablet dissolved in at least 20L of water + 0.5 - 1.0% adjuvant/surfactant
Comments: For use on dense or established weeds in water bodies less than 0.5 m deep or with a volume less than 37.5 cubic metres. Dissolve tablets in water (at least 20L per tablet) mix thoroughly and then inject the solution directly into the water body.
Withholding period: 14 days before using treated water to irrigate food crops. See label for withholding periods for other uses of treated water.
Herbicide group: 14 (previously group G), Inhibition of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO inhibitors)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Flumioxazin 15 grams /tablet
(Clipper herbicide®)
Rate: Inject solution into water body. 1 tablet per 75 cubic metres. Each tablet dissolved in at least 20L of water + 0.5 - 1.0% adjuvant/surfactant
Comments: For use on low density, establishing or re-establishing weeds in water bodies less than 0.5 m deep or with a volume less than 37.5 cubic metres. Dissolve tablets in water (at least 20L per tablet) and additives in a spray tank, mix thoroughly and then inject the solution directly into the water body. See label for restrictions.
Withholding period: 14 days before using treated water to irrigate food crops. See label for withholding periods for other uses of treated water.
Herbicide group: 14 (previously group G), Inhibition of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO inhibitors)
Resistance risk: Moderate
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. |
All of NSW |
Prohibition on certain dealings
Must not be imported into the state, sold, bartered, exchanged or offered for sale. |
Greater Sydney |
Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Asset Protection)
Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Notify local control authority if found. |
Hunter |
Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication)
Notify local control authority if found. 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. |
Murray |
Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Prevention)
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. |
North West |
Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Prevention)
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. This applies to all species of Cabomba except for the native Cabomba furcata |
*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here |
Reviewed 2023