Rubber vine is a many-stemmed shrub that can climb 30 m into tree canopies or grow to an unsupported height of 3 m. All parts of the plant are poisonous to livestock and people.
Rubber vine is a woody shrub or climber that can form dense thickets. It:
What to do if a person is poisoned:
All parts of rubber vine plants are poisonous to livestock including cattle, sheep, goats and horses. Grazing livestock rarely eat much rubber vine except when other feed is scarce. Animals have died from eating feed in areas where dry rubber vine leaves has fallen on the ground.
Rubber vine contains cardiac glycosides. These compounds affect the heart, brain and gut. Cattle that eat a small amount of rubber vine may die from heart failure after vigorous exercise (e.g. mustering). The most common symptom is diarrhoea usually with blood present.
Rubber vine is a perennial many-stemmed woody shrub or vine that can scramble high into tree canopies. It can grow to 3 m tall unsupported.
There are two types of stems:
Rubber vine looks similar to these introduced plants:
It also looks similar to this native vine:
Rubber vine has been found at several properties in north west NSW. Plants were found growing around homesteads and sheds, and are under an eradication program.
Rubber vine is native to southwestern Madagascar. It now grows throughout East Africa, Southeast Asia, the United States and Central and Southern America.
It was planted in the 1860s in northern Queensland mining town gardens. By 1917 there were reports of infestations. During the Second World War it was cultivated as a potential source of rubber. It has spread through many parts of Queensland including the south of Cape York, Gulf of Carpentaria, along the coast south to Bundaberg and as far west as the Northern Territory border.
Rubbervine grows in semi-arid regions with tropical or subtropical climates. Although it can grow in semi-arid regions it needs adequate water and is often found growing along waterways or in areas with water run-off. It grows in many soil types but is more likely to germinate in soils that retain moisture. It can tolerate shade and a wide range of temperatures. Frosts will kill the aerial parts of the plant.
One hectare of rubber vine can produce millions of seeds each year. The fresh seeds have high viability (95%) and most can remain viable for 6 to 8 months. If conditions are too dry, most seeds will die after one year. Seeds can remain viable for more than a month within the seed pod, even when the pods are floating in saltwater.
Seeds are spread short distances by wind and longer distances by water. Seed pods float, helping spread seed along waterways. Seeds can also spread attached to animal fur and in soil or mud stuck to machinery.
CRC for Australian Weed Management. (2003) Weed Management Guide: Rubber vine. CRC for Australian Weed Management and the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Heritage.
McKenzie, R. (2012). Australia's poisonous plants, fungi and cyanobacteria: a guide to species of medical and veterinary importance. CSIRO.
Parsons, W.T., & Cuthbertson, E. G. (2001). Noxious weeds of Australia. CSIRO publishing.
Queensland Government (2016). Weeds of Australia, Biosecurity Queensland edition Fact sheet: Cryptostegia grandiflora (Roxb.) R. Br. Retrieved 6 November 2021 from https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/cryptostegia_grandiflora.htm
Tomley, A. J. (1998). Cryptostegia grandiflora Roxb. ex R.Br. In R.H. Groves, R.C.H. Shepherd, & R.G. Richardson, (Eds) The Biology of Australian Weeds. Vol 2. RG and FJ Richardson. Melbourne.
Please do not attempt to treat or dispose of this weed yourself. Report this plant if you see it anywhere in NSW by calling the helpline listed at the top of this page immediately.
NSW DPI will lead an initial response for the treatment and disposal of the plant to stop it from spreading.
Spraying, basal bark applications and the cut stump method can be used to control rubber vine. Contact the helpline and assistance will be provided to eradicate this weed.
Currently the aim is to eradicate all rubber vine in NSW so there is no need to release biological control agents, which only help to contain weeds.
Two biological control agents have been released in Queensland where rubber vine is widespread:
Both biological control agents cause leaf damage, reduced flowering, less seed pods and death in some rubber vine plants. The caterpillars of the moth feed on the leaves between March and October. The rust causes leaves to turn yellow and drop off, mostly in the wet season. These agents have spread in Queensland where there are heavy infestations of rubber vine.
See Using herbicides for more information.
PERMIT 90342 Expires 31/12/2025
Picloram 100 g/L + Triclopyr 300 g/L + Aminopyralid 8 g/L
(Grazon Extra®)
Rate: 350-500 mL / 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray using hand held equipment. Can be used around domestics residences, homesteads gardens, sheds, and agricultural buildings when detected as part of an eradication program. See permit for further critical use comments.
Withholding period: Where product is used to control woody weeds in pastures there is a restriction of 12 weeks for use of treated pastures for making hay and silage; using hay or other plant material for compost, mulch or mushroom substrate; or using animal waste from animals grazing on treated pastures for compost, mulching, or spreading on pasture/crops.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 90342 Expires 31/12/2025
Triclopyr 240 g/L + Picloram 120 g/L
(Access™ )
Rate: 1 L / 60 L diesel
Comments: Basal bark and cut stump application. Can be used around domestics residences, homesteads gardens, sheds, and agricultural buildings when detected as part of an eradication program. See permit for further critical use comments.
Withholding period: Nil
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
PERMIT 90342 Expires 31/12/2025
Triclopyr 600 g/L
(Garlon® 600)
Rate: 1 L / 60 L of diesel
Comments: Basal bark and cut stump application. Can be used around domestics residences, homesteads gardens, sheds, and agricultural buildings when detected as part of an eradication program. See permit for further critical use comments.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg
(Various products)
Rate: 15 g per 100 L of water
Comments: Hand gun application. Do not apply to bushes more than 3 m tall. Apply October to April, ensuring thorough spray coverage of all foliage.
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 100 g/L + Triclopyr 300 g/L + Aminopyralid 8 g/L
(Grazon Extra®)
Rate: 350 or 500 mL in 100 L of water
Comments: Hand gun application
Withholding period: Where product is used to control woody weeds in pastures there is a restriction of 12 weeks for use of treated pastures for making hay and silage; using hay or other plant material for compost, mulch or mushroom substrate; or using animal waste from animals grazing on treated pastures for compost, mulching, or spreading on pasture/crops.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Triclopyr 240 g/L + Picloram 120 g/L
(Access™ )
Rate: 1 L per 60 L of diesel (or biodiesel such as Biosafe).
Comments: Basal bark application for plants with stems up to 5 cm diameter at the base. Cut stump application can be used for plants with stems up to and in excess of 5 cm diameter at the base. Treat all stems on multi-stem plants. See label for information about biodiesel.
For Agricultural non-crop areas, commercial and industrial areas, fence lines, forestry, pastures and rights-of-way.
Withholding period: Nil
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate
Triclopyr 600 g/L
(Garlon® 600)
Rate: 1 L per 60 L of diesel
Comments: Basal bark and cut stump application.
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. |
All of NSW |
Prohibited Matter
A person who deals with prohibited matter or a carrier of prohibited matter is guilty of an offence. A person who becomes aware of or suspects the presence of prohibited matter must immediately notify the Department of Primary Industries |
Reviewed 2022