Moth vine is a fast growing climbing plant with hairy twining stems and large green fruit. It is poisonous to people and animals and smothers native vegetation.
Moth vine grows quickly and smothers other plants. It invades natural areas, parks and gardens. Moth vine is poisonous to people and animals.
The leaves and seeds are poisonous. The latex sap can cause skin and eye irritation and in some cases it can cause breathing difficulties.
What to do if a person is poisoned:
Poisoning is not common but there are records of poultry, cattle and horses being poisoned. Symptoms include: poor balance, staggering, vomiting and abdominal pain.
Animals can recover but moth vine can also result in death.
Moth vine is a long-lived vine with twining stems that can climb 6-10 m on plants and other structures. Small pale flowers grow in clusters from summer to autumn (mostly in summer). It has a dense cover of thick, arrow-shaped leaves.
Roots are shallow and woody.
Moth vine looks similar to several native vines:
Moth vine grows in eastern New South Wales and sometimes inland areas. It grows in sub-tropical coastal floodplain forests in the north coast region and the Illawarra sub-tropical rainforests in the Sydney region.
It is also a weed in New Zealand, Africa, Europe and North America. It is native to South America.
Moth vine grows best in warm temperate and sub-tropical climates with moist soil. It can grow in full sun or semi-shade and doesn’t tolerate frost. Historically planted as a garden ornamental it grows in:
Each fruit can contain up to 400 seeds and the seeds can remain viable for up to 5 years. The fruit split open while still attached to the vine and release the light seeds with silky tufts of hairs. The seed is spread by wind, water and can attach to clothing or animal fur.
Harden, G. J., McDonald, W. J. F., & Williams, J. B. (2007). Rainforest climbing plants. Gwen Harden Publishing.
McKenzie, R. (2012). Australia's poisonous plants, fungi and cyanobacteria: a guide to species of medical and veterinary importance. CSIRO.
Muyt, A. (2001). Bush invaders of South-East Australia: a guide to the identification and control of environmental weeds found in South-East Australia. RG and FJ Richardson.
PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 16 August 2018 from: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Araujia~sericifera
Winks, C. J., Fowler, S. V., Council, A. R., & Council, N. R. (2000). Prospects for biological control of moth plant, Araujia sericifera (Asclepiadaceae). Landcare Research Contract Report LC9900/100 (unpubl.).
Take care to avoid contact with the milky sap that is released when the plant is damaged. Wear gloves and other personal protective equipment.
Plants produce hundreds of seeds which can live for up to 5 years so follow up work will be needed. Return to control areas regularly to check for any regrowth and re-treat when needed.
Don’t plant moth vine in your garden. Dispose of the fruit appropriately.
Contact your local council for advice on how to dispose of moth vine fruit.
Seedlings and small plants can be hand pulled or dug out. This is easiest when the soil is damp and loose. If possible remove roots from at least 10 cm below ground to avoid regrowth of the plant.
Larger vines can be cut and the left to wither and die on the plants that they are growing on. The roots will need to be dug out to prevent regrowth.
Remove and dispose of the fruit.
Large plants or infestations can be controlled with herbicides.
For seedlings or low growing vines, spray to thoroughly cover all of the foliage. If vines are growing over native plants spot spraying will not be appropriate and other options should be used. Spraying will not kill the fruit. Collect the fruit and dispose of it appropriately.
Gently scrape a thin layer of bark off along the stem. Apply herbicide within 15 seconds. Do not scrape all the way around the stem as this will ringbark the vine and prevent the herbicide from moving though the plant effectively. This method is suitable in sensitive environments.
Cut the stem and apply herbicide within 15 seconds of cutting.
See Using herbicides for more information.
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 200 mL per 10 L of water
Comments: Spot spray seedling plants.
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: 1 part per 1.5 parts of water
Comments: Stem cut, scrape and paint application
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
with Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 2 L glyphosate plus 15g metsulfuron-methyl in 100L water
Comments: Spot spray plants. See permit for conditions and critical use comments.
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: 10–20g per 100L of water
Comments: Spot spray. See permit for conditions and critical use comments.
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
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 .
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
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. |
Reviewed 2023