African boxthorn
Lycium ferocissimum
Weed profile
Perennial
Shrub
Weeds of National Significance (WoNS)
Hinders movement
Injures animals- Habitat: native vegetation, pastures
Impact
Forms prickly thickets in native vegetation and pasture.
Description
- Large dense shrub.
- Light green fleshy leaves.
- Flowers are white with purple blotches.
- Round red berries.
- Stems are densely branched, rigid, and spine-tipped.
Control options
triclopyr (240g/L) + picloram (120g/L)
Application Method: Basal bark or cut stump
Application Rate: 1L/60L biodiesel or diesel
Product Name: Access®
Herbicide Group: 4
Situation: Non-crop areas and pastures.
Timing: Basal bark or cut stump, any time
Comments:
Treat basal bark on stems up to 5 cm diameter. Cut larger trunks and apply herbicide immediately.
Legal Status: Registered
glyphosate (540g/L)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 470-670mL/100L
Product Name: Conquest Knockout Pro 540®
Herbicide Group: 9
Situation: Non-crop areas and pastures.
Timing: Spot spray, July - September
Comments: Apply to actively growing plants. Do not apply to drought stressed plants. Further treatment may be necessary to restrict seedling re-establishment. Non selective, avoid contact with desirable plants. Use lower rates on seedlings and higher rates on large mature bushes.
Legal Status: Registered
2,4-D (300g/L) + picloram (75g/L)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 1.3L/100L
Product Name: Tordon 75-D®
Herbicide Group: 4
Situation: Non-crop areas and pastures.
Timing: Spot spray, prior to bud burst.
Comments: Small plants only. Thorough coverage essential, spray soil to drip line.
Legal Status: Product and use are registered, but this weed is on the label for Qld, NSW, Victoria and WA only.
glyphosate (450g/L) + metsulfuron-methyl (600g/kg)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 1L + 10g/100L
Product Name: Roundup CT® + Brush-Off®
Herbicide Group: 9, 2
Situation: Conservation areas, bushland and other non-crop areas.
Timing: Spot spray, July - September, before berry set and leaf fall.
Comments:
Apply after good rains.
Non selective, avoid contact with desirable plants. Soil active herbicide, may damage desirable vegetation.
Legal Status: PER 13371 (exp. 2027)
triclopyr (600g/L)
Application Method: Basal bark or cut stump
Application Rate: 2L/60L biodiesel or diesel
Product Name: Garlon 600®
Herbicide Group: 4
Situation: Non-crop areas and pastures.
Timing: Basal bark or cut stump, any time
Comments: Treat basal bark on stems up to 5 cm diameter. Cut larger trunks and apply herbicide immediately.
Legal Status: Registered
picloram (44.7g/L) + aminopyralid (4.7 g/L)
Application Method: Cut stump
Application Rate: Undiluted gel
Product Name: Vigilant II®
Herbicide Group: 4
Situation: Non-crop areas and pastures.
Timing: Cut stump, any time
Comments: Apply a 3-5 mm thick layer of gel to freshly cut stump.
Legal Status: Registered
picloram (20g/kg)
Application Method: Granular application
Application Rate: 35-45g/square metre
Product Name: Tordon® Granules
Herbicide Group: 4
Situation: Non-crop areas and pastures.
Timing: Granular application, any time unless plants stressed.
Comments:
Suitable for isolated outlying plants only. Soil active; do not apply near native vegetation or other desirable plants.
Legal Status: Registered
Mechanical removal
Situation: Any.
Timing: Any time
Comments: Grub individual bushes, using boxthorn puller, bobcat or other machinery depending on their size.
glyphosate (450g/L)
Application Method: Cut stump
Application Rate: Undiluted, or up to 1:5
Product Name: Roundup CT®
Herbicide Group: 9
Situation: Conservation areas, bushland and other non-crop areas.
Timing: Cut stump, July - September
Comments: Apply when weed is actively growing. A 1:1 dilution gives the best viscosity for sponge application.
Legal Status: PER 13371 (exp. 2027)
glyphosate (450g/L)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 1L/100L
Product Name: agVantage Glyphosate 450®
Herbicide Group: 9
Situation: Non-crop areas.
Timing: Spot spray, July - September
Comments:
Repeat application will be required.
Non selective, avoid contact with desirable plants.
Legal Status: Product and use are registered, but this weed is not on the label
glyphosate (450g/L) + triclopyr (600g/L)
Application Method: Cut stump
Application Rate: 333mL + 33mL/1L
Product Name: Roundup CT® + Garlon 600®
Herbicide Group: 9, 4
Situation: Any.
Timing: Cut stump, any time
Comments: Cut stem and apply herbicide immediately.
Legal Status: Registered
triclopyr (600g/L)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 170mL/100L
Product Name: Garlon 600®
Herbicide Group: 4
Situation: Non-crop areas and pastures.
Timing: Spot spray, July - September
Comments: Plants up to 2 m tall.
Legal Status: Product and use are registered, but this weed is on the label for Tasmania only.
hexazinone (250g/L)
Application Method: Ground spot applicator
Application Rate: Undiluted 4mL/ spot
Product Name: Velpar L®
Herbicide Group: 5
Situation: Non-crop areas and pastures.
Timing: Ground spot applicator, on moist soil or before rain.
Comments:
One spot for each metre of bush height, up to 3 metres. Place spot between base and dripline of the plant. Non selective. Do not apply over root zone of desirable trees. Soil active.
Legal Status: Registered
triclopyr (300g/L) + picloram (100g/L) + aminopyralid (8g/L)
Application Method: Spot spray
Application Rate: 500mL/100L
Product Name: Grazon Extra®
Herbicide Group: 4
Situation: Non-crop areas and pastures.
Timing: Spot spray, when plants have good leaf cover.
Comments: Bushes less than 2m tall only, with good growth and no leaf fall.
Legal Status: Registered
Legal requirements in each region
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the Alinytjara Wiluṟara Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the Green Adelaide Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the Northern and Yorke Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
Land owners in this region to take reasonable steps to kill plants and prevent their spread. Enforceable by the South Australian Arid Lands Landscape Board.
Must not be sold or traded in any way, including as a contaminant of anything.
Must not be transported on a public road, including as a contaminant of anything.
More Information
- Declared plant policy for African boxthorn ( )
- Eastern Plains Boxthorn Control Trial and Demonstration report ( )
Find out how to:
- benefit from the early intervention of new and emerging weeds - handbook
- best manage your use and storage of agricultural and veterinary chemicals.
Control advice
For further help and advice managing this weed contact your regional landscape board: