Ochna is a shrub with yellow flowers and distinctive black berries surrounded by red sepals. It invades bushland and can dominate the understory.
Ochna is a very hardy plant that can:
Ochna is an evergreen perennial shrub that grows 2–3 m tall. The black berries on the red sepals look like Micky Mouse’s face.
In NSW, ochna grows in coastal regions from Illawarra in the South East region to the Queensland border. It is common in the Greater Sydney and North Coast regions. It has also been found in the Northern Tablelands.
Ochna was introduced as an ornamental garden plant. It is native to southern Africa.
Ochna grows well in shade or full sun on a wide range of soil types from sand to clay. It tolerates extended dry spells but is sensitive to frost. Ochna often invades disturbed sites but can also grow in native vegetation that has had no disturbance. It has been found growing:
Ochna does not produce seeds until the plants are 3 years old. Seeds usually germinate within 1 month and are only viable for up to one year. Birds eat the fruit and spread the seeds, often from garden plantings into nearby bushland. Seeds can also be spread by people dumping garden waste that contains fruiting ochna.
Breaden, R., & Armstrong, T. (2004). Control methods for ochna (Ochna serrulata)(Hochst.) Walp. in south-east Queensland. Plant Protection Quarterly, 19(1), 33.
Gosper, C. R., Vivian-Smith, G., & Hoad, K. (2006). Reproductive ecology of invasive Ochna serrulata (Ochnaceae) in south-eastern Queensland. Australian journal of botany, 54(1), 43-52.
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) (2020). Ochna serrulata (Hochst.) Walp. NSW Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 29 June 2020 from: http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Ochna~serrulata
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 ochna:
Do not try to pull out plants as they will break off where the root kinks and the plant will regrow. Dig out small plants and seedlings (under 20 cm tall) if the soil is sandy or soft enough. Remove as much of the roots as possible.
For advice about the best way to dispose of ochna fruit, contact your local council weed officer.
When: Anytime but best during warm wet summers.
Follow-up: When regrowth appears. Ochna is very hardy and more than one treatment is often needed.
Spraying is best for plants below knee high. Apply to all foliage to the point of visible wetness.
Use this method (also known as the ‘splatter gun’ technique) for plants up to 1 m tall. Apply a small amount of concentrated herbicide and a marker dye onto the leaves of the plant by painting lines of the herbicide mixture in a cross hatch pattern. There is no need to saturate the plant using this method and it can be effectively used to avoid off-target damage to native or other desirable plants.
This method is suitable for small plants with thin stems. Scrape the stem gently to expose the green layer under the bark. Start at the base of the plant and scrape as high as possible. Apply herbicide within 15 seconds of scraping.
This method is suitable for plants with thick stems. Cut trunks or stems of the plant as low to the ground as possible and apply herbicide to the stump within 15 seconds of cutting. For best results, dig below the cut stump and scrape the stem to expose the green layer under the bark. Apply herbicide to the scraped stem within 15 seconds.
For large mature plants, drill holes around the lower stem of the plant using a 10 mm drill bit. Fill the holes with herbicide within 15 seconds. Remove and bag any fruit from the plant and dispose of appropriately.
See Using herbicides for more information.
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
(Various products)
Rate: 200 mL glyphosate per 10 L of water
Comments: Spot spray. Apply to seedlings/ coppice shoots and shrubs.
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 per 1.5 parts of water
Comments: Scrape stem, cut, and paint. Cut stump saplings. Stem injection large trees and shrubs.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: M, Inhibitors of EPSP synthase
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L
with Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 200 mL glyphosate plus 1.5g metsulfuron-methyl per 10 L of water
Comments: Spot spray application.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: M, Inhibitors of EPSP synthase
Resistance risk: Moderate
Fluroxypyr 333 g/L
(Starane™ Advanced)
Rate: 600 mL in 100 L of water
Comments: Spot spray, Apply to plants up to 2 m tall
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
Fluroxypyr 333 g/L
(Starane™ Advanced)
Rate: 300 mL per 10 L of water
Comments: Gas gun application to plants up to 1 m.
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/stem injection 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: 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. |
Reviewed 2022