Tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum)

Tutsan is a spreading shrub that grows in shady, moist areas. It forms dense thickets and outcompetes other plants.

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How does this weed affect you?

Tutsan is an environmental and agricultural weed that:

• forms dense thickets that smother and shade out native vegetation even in undisturbed bushland
• invades pastures, especially where if overgrazed
• is mildly toxic to horses, cattle, sheep and goats but not particularly palatable.

What does it look like?

Tutsan is a spreading, soft-woody shrub that grows up to 1 m tall. Plants are semi-deciduous.

Leaves are:

• green, slightly paler on the underside
• often reddish in autumn
• oval and slightly heart shaped with a notch at the base
• 3.5–12 cm long and 3–8 cm wide
• hairless 
• stalkless
• fragrant and smell like curry when crushed
• in opposite pairs along the stem.

Flowers:

• have 5 yellow to orange petals (6-12 mm long)
• have 5 green sepals (the same size as petals) that remain under the fruit
• are 1.5–3 cm in diameter
• are in clusters of 2–15 at the tips of branches
• present in spring and summer.

Fruit are:

• round, fleshy berries
• green at first, then red and purple to black when ripe
• 7–10 mm long.

Seeds are:

• brown
• about 1 mm long
• ridged.

Stems are:

• green or red
• softly woody with several growing from the crown
• slender, with distinctive opposite wings or ridges running lengthways
• hairless
• rigid, tending to arch with age.

Roots

Roots are shallow, usually in the top 30 cm of soil.

Similar looking plants

Tutsan looks like other weedy Hypericums:

• St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), which has smaller, narrower leaves (up to 4 cm) with toothed edges and brown capsules.
• Goldencup St. John’s wort (Hypericum patulum), which is a much taller shrub up to 2 m and the fruit is a capsule.

Where is it found?

In NSW, most tutsan plants have been found in the Blue Mountains in Greater Sydney region. Some plants have also been found in the Riverina and Murray regions.

Tutsan is native to Europe, Asia and Africa. It was introduced to Australia as a garden plant.

What type of environment does it grow in?

Tutsan grows in warm temperate climates with more than 750 mm of rain per year. Plants grow best in moist shaded sites and are mostly found on south-facing slopes. However, they also grow in open sunny areas if the site is moist enough. Tutsan grows in:

• forests and woodlands
• along waterways
• disturbed sites such as along roadsides
• in degraded pastures.

Maps and records

• Recorded presence of Tutsan during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2026)
  These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Officers record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Records reflect the presence of the weed on the date of inspection.
  
  

How does it spread?

Most spread has been through people planting it as a garden ornamental.

By seed

Tutsan starts producing seeds when plants are 18 months to 2 years old. Each plant can produce up to 2 000 seeds per year. The seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to 5 years. Seeds are spread:

• by birds and other animals that eat the fruit
• in moving water
• by attaching to vehicles and machinery
• in contaminated agricultural produce
• by people dumping garden waste.

References

Agriculture Victoria. (2020). Invasiveness Assessment - Tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum) in Victoria. Retrieved 17 October 2024 from Invasiveness Assessment - Tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum) in Victoria (Nox) | VRO | Agriculture Victoria

Identic Pty Ltd. and Lucid (2016). Weeds of Australia Fact sheet: Hypericum androsaemum L. Retrieved 17 October 2024 from: https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/hypericum_androsaemum.htm

James, T. K., & Rahman, A. (2015). Management and control options for tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum) in hill country pastures a review. New Zealand Plant Protection, 68, 124-131.

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.

Parsons, W.T., & Cuthbertson, E. G. (2001). Noxious weeds of Australia. CSIRO publishing.

PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 17 October 20224 from: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Hypericum~androsaemum

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

More information

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Control

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.

Prevention

Clean equipment, including vehicles, before moving from an infested area to an un-infested one. Avoid overgrazing and soil disturbance if possible.

Physical removal

By hand

Roots are shallow and small plants can be pulled out easily. Larger plants can be dug out, though ensure that all the roots are removed to prevent regrowth.

Cultivation

In degraded pastures with dense infestations, plough large patches of tutsan in autumn and cultivate again when new growth appears. Sow a new pasture the following autumn.

Chemical control

Spot spraying

Spray actively growing plants. Cover all of the foliage.

Splatter gun

Splatter guns use small amounts of concentrated herbicide. They spray large droplets that limit spray drift. They are useful for very dense infestations of weeds that are difficult to reach.

Weed wipers

Wipers or wands apply herbicide directly onto leaves. This can better target the chemical and minimise damage to other species.

Herbicide options

See Using herbicides for more information.

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Fluroxypyr 200 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 500 mL to 1 L per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock feed for 7 days after application. See label for further information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Fluroxypyr 333 g/L (Starane™ Advanced)
Rate: 300 to 600 mL per 100 L water
Comments: Spot spray
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: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 50 parts water
Comments: Spot spray
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 9 parts water
Comments: Splatter gun
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: One part product to 20 parts water
Comments: Wipe onto leaves
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 10 - 20 g per 100 L water plus non-ionic surfactant 1 mL per 1 L of water
Comments: Spot spray
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

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2030
Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 10 g per 1 L of water plus non-ionic surfactant 1 mL per 1 L of water.
Comments: Wipe onto leaves
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

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Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the NSW 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.
Central Tablelands An exclusion zone is established for Bathurst Regional Council, Blayney Council, Cabonne Council, Cowra Shire Council, Mid-Western Regional Council, Lithgow Council and Orange City Council areas. A core infestation area is established for Oberon Council area.	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Containment) Within exclusion zone: Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. Notify local control authority if found. Within core infestation: Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. 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

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Reviewed 2025