Chinese celtis is a large tree that produces thousands of fleshy fruits. It outcompetes native plants especially along waterways on the north coast of NSW.
Chinese celtis spreads quickly and can form dense thickets. It
Chinese celtis are large trees usually 10-15 m tall (occasionally up to 20 m), with spreading, moderately dense crowns. They are deciduous to semi-deciduous and drop their leaves in late winter to early spring in northern NSW.
Trunks are smooth with mottled grey bark when mature.
Chinese celtis looks similar to these introduced species:
There are also native plants that look similar:
In NSW, most established populations of Chinese celtis are in the North Coast and Greater Sydney regions.
It’s native to China, Japan and Korea. Chinese celtis was introduced as an ornamental shade and street tree. It was planted in urban private gardens and public parks.
Chinese celtis grows best in moist areas. Most infestations are in disturbed or previously cleared riparian areas. It prefers clay soils, especially alluvial soils on the banks of waterways and gullies, creek and gullies. It is shade-tolerant.
Each tree can produce thousands of seeds each year. Birds and flying foxes eat the fruit and spread the seeds in their droppings. Seed are usually only viable for up to two years.
Armstrong, T. R., & Keegan, S. L. (1996). Celtis sinensis and its control. In Proceedings of the 11th Australian Weeds Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 30 September-3 October 1996 (pp. 504-505). Weed Science Society of Victoria Inc.
Markus, N., & Hall, L. (2004). Foraging behaviour of the black flying-fox (Pteropus alecto) in the urban landscape of Brisbane, Queensland. Wildlife Research, 31(3), 345-355.
Panetta, F. D. (2001). Seedling emergence and seed longevity of the tree weeds Celtis sinensis and Cinnamomum camphora. Weed Research, 41(1), 83-95.
PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 20 November 2020 from: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Celtis~sinensis
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.
To manage Chinese celtis:
Hand pull seedlings up to 30 cm high. Small isolated plants may be dug out. Cut down larger trees and dig out the stump so that the tree cannot regrow. Be careful not to move fruit and seeds to new areas when removing trees.
Contact your local council for advice on how to dispose of the fruit.
Chemical control is most effective when plants are actively growing. Do not spray when the tree is losing leaves going into the winter months.
Plants up to 2 m tall can be sprayed. Apply to all leaves of young plants to the point of visible wetness.
This method is suitable for plants with up to a 20 cm diameter trunk. Apply herbicide mixed with diesel all the way around the lower stem of the plant. For multi-stemmed trunks, apply the herbicide from ground level to where trunk branches.
Cut trunks or stems as close to the ground as possible and apply herbicide to the stump within 15 seconds of cutting. This method works best on plants with a diameter at the base of the tree of 20 cm or less. For larger plants, scrape the cut stem and any above ground roots to expose the layer of the trunk below the bark. Apply herbicide to the scraped areas within 15 seconds.
Drill or make cuts into the sapwood and fill with herbicide within 15 seconds of making the cut.
See Using herbicides for more information.
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 1 part glyphosate to 50 parts water
Comments: Spray seedlings and coppice shoots.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: M, Inhibitors of EPSP synthase
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 1 part glyphosate to 1.5 parts water
Comments: Cut stump/scrape stem application for saplings. Stem injection application large trees and shrubs.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: M, Inhibitors of EPSP synthase
Resistance risk: Moderate
Fluroxypyr 333 g/L
(Starane™ Advanced)
Rate: 2.1 L per 100 L of diesel
Comments: Basal bark application, for plants up to 2m high
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: I, Disruptors of plant cell growth (synthetic auxins)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Picloram 44.7 g/L + Aminopyralid 4.47 g/L
(Vigilant II ®)
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. Stem inject application for trees: Make a series of cuts 15-20 mm deep around the trunk using an axe or saw. Space cuts evenly with no more than a 20-40 mm gap between them. Apply a 5 mm layer of gel over the lower surface of the cut.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: I, Disruptors of plant cell growth (synthetic auxins)
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. |
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. |
North Coast
Exclusion (eradication) zone: Bellingen Shire LGA, Coffs Harbour City LGA, Lord Howe Island, Nambucca Valley LGA Port Macquarie-Hastings LGA. Core infestation (containment) zone: Ballina Shire LGA, Byron Shire LGA, Clarence Valley LGA, Kempsey Shire LGA, Kyogle Shire LGA, Lismore City LGA, Richmond Valley LGA, Tweed Shire LGA. |
Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Containment)
Whole of region: Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Exclusion zone: Notify local control authority if found. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. Core infestation: Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value. |
*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here |
Reviewed 2023