Invasive woolly nightshade found in Springlands

The invasive pest plant woolly nightshade has been found on a property in the Blenheim suburb of Springlands. Biosecurity Manager Liam Falconer said Council staff noticed the plant while driving past the property.

“The presence of this plant wasn’t entirely surprising, given that woolly nightshade has been spotted in the area previously.”

“We encourage anyone who thinks they’ve seen it to contact Council as soon as possible. Our biosecurity staff will visit the site and work with the landowner to arrange for its control at no cost to them.”

The distribution of woolly nightshade in Marlborough is fairly limited and its potential environmental impacts are still manageable. However, this isn't the case in other regions, where it has become a significant environmental weed.

Last winter, Council staff removed more than 10,000 woolly nightshade plants from an infested site near Croisilles Harbour in the Marlborough Sounds, one of the largest known infestations in the region. Management there is ongoing to reduce its density and lower the risk of spreading to new areas.

Woolly nightshade is an aggressive, fast-growing plant that can form a dense population, crowding out other plants and obstructing the regeneration of native flora. Dust from the leaves and stems can irritate the skin, eyes, nose and throat.

Each plant can produce thousands of seeds dispersed by birds that consume the berries.

If you think you’ve seen woolly nightshade, please get in touch with the Council Biosecurity Team. Ph: 03 520 7400 or email biosecurity@marlborough.govt.nz