Goldflower (Hypericum kouytchense)

Also known as: large-flowered St. John's wort

Gold flower is a straggly shrub. It is a weed of disturbed shady, well drained places.

Profile

How does this weed affect you?

Goldflower is a dominating weed of swampy areas and other riparian zones.

What does it look like?

Goldflower is a straggly, woody shrub up to 1.5 m high. It has multiple stems from the base and the longer stems spread horizontally with their ends growing upwards. The leaves are spear to oval shaped, up to 6 cm long and 3 cm wide. The yellow flowers have 5 petals and are up to 5.5 cm in diameter. The fruit is a woody capsule up to 3 cm long and 1 cm wide.

Where is it found?

Goldflower was planted as an ornamental garden plant and has naturalised in the Central and Sourthern Tablelands of NSW.

It is native to China.

Goldflower grows in swampy areas, along waterways and in disturbed areas such as roadsides. It prefers shade to full sun.

References

Richardson F.J., Richardson R.G. & Shepherd R.C.H. (2006).Weeds of the south-east an identification guide for Australia. (R.G. and F.J. Richardson, Melbourne).

PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 1 February 2021 from: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Hypericum~kouytchense

More information

Control

If possible control plants before they produce fruit. Dispose of fruit or plants with fruit attached appropriately.

Hand weeding

Seedlings and small plants can be hand pulled or dug out. Remove all roots so the plant doesn’t regrow. This will be easier in damp or loose soil. A trowel or knife can be used to help loosen the soil before removal.

Chemical control

Spray actively growing plants. Ensure that all of the foliage is covered with the herbicide mixture.

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

See Using herbicides for more information.

Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 10 mL per 1 L water
Comments: Spot spray. For general weed control in domestic areas (home gardens), commercial, industrial and public service areas, agricultural buildings and other farm situations.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
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 2021