Weed of the Month - Tobacco Tree

Tree Tobacco - Solanum Mauritianum

Tree tobacco or wild tobacco tree originates from South America. It tolerates most soil types and can handle moderate shade, invading forest edges regrowth areas and most open spaces. Tree Tobacco is quick growing, out competing local native plants. Tree Tobacco is toxic to livestock if eaten in sufficient quantities.

Tree Tobacco grows to 3 to 4 metres high, its leaves are sage green and around 30cm long and 15cm wide. The leaves produce a strong smell when crushed.

The Flowers are purple/blue and form on the end of a branch in compacted clusters. The fruit is round and is covered in 12mm hair.

When ripe each fruit contains 150-200 small seeds that germinate very easily. Seeds are often spread by Birds, flying foxes and water.

Small seedling can be hand pulled when soil is moist, or remove with a shovel. The use of herbicide control depend on different situation please visit the DPI site for further information www.dpi.qld.gov.au
Ring barking is also an effective control method but tree tobacco will releases fine airborne hairs particle that some people may react to.

Tree Tobacco is not a declared plant under Queensland legislation but is considered to be a environmental weed.

Link

• www.dpi.qld.gov.au