Landcare Agony Aunt – Million Dollar Problem

Dear Agony Aunt,

After flooding we saw colonies of a noxious-looking plant with pinky-red, bell-shaped flowers along the roadside. It has started to spread prolifically into our Landcare site. What do we do?

Yours, Mind-blown in Metford

Dear Reader,

I would love to be able to give you a bounty of a million dollars for the priceless work you are doing to help protect our environments from this invasive plant.

I consulted our colleague Phoebe Carter-Swain, who is on work placement with Hunter Local Land Services.  She has prepared a brief on understanding and tackling this species, which has been cropping up in the Hunter this winter:

Pretty Poison – how to get a hold of Mother of Millions this winter.

Mother of Millions (Bryophyllum species) is a succulent-like plant with tiny leaflets fringing long, rubbery leaves which spiral all the way up the stem. These thin leaves may be green, khaki or spotty.

Each leaflet can turn into a new plant, and each plant produces 20,000+ seeds.  The inflorescence (group of flowers) at the top of the stem ranges from pale pink/red through to orange/vermillion, and the plant can grow taller than you!

Originating in Madagascar and South Africa, the Bryophyllum species were popularised in Australia as an ornamental plant due to their drought-hardy nature and bright spray of colour – however, they are extremely toxic to humans, livestock and domestic animals like dogs.

 The bufadienolides toxins in Mother of Millions causes heart failure in human adults. If you suspect human poisoning call poison info line 13 11 26. Livestock that graze Mother of Millions can be poisoned from small amounts. Consult a vet immediately if you have concerns.

This plant is amazing at spreading, even with small collections within a garden, it can be spread by flowing water (e.g. when it rains or floods, or when a garden is watered), machinery and mowing, and the movement of soil which has plant fragments in it.

This highly toxic weed is considered an asset protection priority weed in the Hunter.  Check out WeedWise to know your obligations in NSW.

Winter is a good time to control this plant, as May to October is its “active growing time”, as you will see around the region, it is in flower now. Flower and fruit growth means the plant will be collecting all the nutrients it can – and will take in the most chemical at this time. It is also more successful to manage the plants before their seeds form and drop, or if the seed is already developing then the poison should help prevent seed development.

Several herbicides are available to treat the plant, check NSW WeedWise website for options and always follow the directions on the herbicides labels). This priority weed can shake off some herbicides and repeat treatments may be required. Hand pulling small infestations (being careful to avoid fragments falling on the ground) is possible, then burning the plants or placing in a red bin to dispose of them.  Wear gloves and PPE.

If you’re not sure what a plant is, how to control or it or what you should doing, give your Local Biosecurity (Weeds) Officer a call. Contacts – Hunter Regional Weeds.

Thanks for doing your bit to tackle this Million Dollar weed. Don’t forget – acting now before it sets seed in spring will pay dividends.

 From Your Landcare Agony Aunt