North West Weeds 
          Your local guide to local noxious weed control (NSW, Australia)

THIS WEBSITE PROUDLY SPONSORED BY: Suppliers of a huge range of weed control herbicides AND Specialised spray equipment

ADVERTISE HERE... Contact the webmaster

North West Weeds
ABN 16 052 158 879
Postal address:
20 Dinoga Street
BINGARA
NSW 2404

PRINT VERSION   Identification │ Effect on animals│ Control methods │Using pesticides │More information?│Disclaimer     

 Blue heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule Vahl) is a native plant of South America.  Its cousin, common heliotrope (Heliotropium europaeum L.) is from southern and central Europe, western Asia and northern Africa.  Both species can be very toxic to animals.

Both plants readily establish along roadsides, disturbed areas (see photo, left), fallows and degraded pastures.  The plants are spread by seeds and rootstocks.

Return to top of the page

How to identify blue heliotrope

Blue heliotrope flowers are purple or lilac, with a yellow centre.  Common heliotrope has white flowers.  Both plants have a characteristic bend in that part of the plant that holds the flowers - as indicated in the photo, left.

Both blue and common heliotrope emit very strong and unpleasant odours during the main growing and flowering periods, 

Return to top of the page

Effect on animals?

Blue heliotrope is poisonous to cattle, especially young cattle.  According to Noxious Plants of Australia by Parsons and Cuthbertson (Inkata Press), blue heliotrope causes acute and chronic liver damage:

"Symptoms of poisoning include depression, photosensitisation, scouring, straining, abdominal swelling, depraved appetite, staggering gait, circling and death.  Autopsy reveals enlarged, hardened and sometimes nodulated livers with enlarged thick-walled gall bladders.  There is a massive build-up in the abdomen and, while the rumen is distended with ingesta, virtually empty intestines."

Common heliotrope is toxic to sheep, cattle and horses, especially when the animals are subjected to repeated grazing on this plant and other plants with similar qualities such as Paterson's curse.

 As with all problem plants the risks to animals is higher when they are put into a new paddock.  In these situations, stressed and disorientated animals will often try a variety of plants that they would not normally eat.

Return to top of the page

Control methods

NSW DPI’s Weed Biological Control Unit in collaboration with CSIRO Canberra has released a biological agent for control of blue heliotrope.  Deuterocampta quadrijuga leaf feeding beetles were released on the Upper Horton properties “Kildare” and “Trevallyn” 7 Jan 2003.  Subsequent releases were made at sites along the Gwydir and Dumareq Rivers.  (One Gwydir River site near Bingara is looking very good as at Jan 07 - hundreds of beetles seen.)  The beetles show great promise in laboratory tests but their attractive "colour scheme" may make them a target for birds.  Only time will tell...

According to NSW DPI’s excellent booklet “Noxious and Environmental Weed Control Handbook 3rd Edition”, treatments include:

Non-Chemical Options: Dig out single plants. Improve pastures with vigorous perennial species.  Ploughing is not an option because (a) the plant grows from root pieces and (b) dormant seeds will be brought to life.

Chemical Options:

  IMPORTANT:  USE OF PESTICIDES – ALWAYS READ THE LABEL

Pesticides must only be used for the purpose for which they are registered and must not be used in any other situation or in any manner contrary to the directions on the label.  Never use a herbicide in any way contrary to the label recommendations.

MORE INFORMATION:   "Noxious Plants of Australia", by Parsons and Cuthbertson [Inkata Press].

Return to top of the page

 DISCLAIMER:   The information contained in this web site is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing. However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to check currency of the information with the appropriate officer of North West Weeds or the user’s independent adviser.

LRT 22/06/06

Send mail to lestanner@aapt.net.au with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2007-2008 Last modified: 25/11/07 - L R Tanner