Watch out for woolly nightshade
Council’s Biosecurity team’s work includes managing plant, animal and marine pest species, with the ever-present risk of new threats that can impact our environment, primary industries and quality of life.
Woolly nightshade
Woolly nightshade, solanum mauritianum (pictured), is commonly known as tobacco weed, flannel-leaf or kerosene plant.
Native to South America, it is multi-branched with grey green leaves and purple single flowers, and grows up to 10 metres high.
It currently has limited distribution with an infestation on Rangitoto ki te Tonga/d’Urville Island and another near Okiwi Bay. It forms dense stands and prevents the establishment of native plants and slows forest regeneration. It can be spread by birds producing many seeds for most of the year.
Woolly nightshade is under a sustained control programme and Council will carry out all control work at no cost to the landowner, with sites visited regularly.
If you are visiting the Sounds and come across any plants, contact Council on Ph: 03 520 7400. Please take a photo and record the location to help with identification.