LPSC’s war on St John’s Wort ramps up

Published on 21 October 2021

All landowners in the Shire are being urged to be prepared for the upcoming St John’s wort season due to the current excellent growing conditions, Liverpool Plains Shire Council Mayor, Cr Doug Hawkins OAM said.

Cr Hawkins said at the end of the 2020/2021 season St John’s wort had a late burst with new seedlings germinating, however plants stayed in a flat low rosette stage not able to flower or seed due to cooler conditions approaching, limiting growth.

Plants detected recently are in the early stages of flowering, are very healthy and up to one metre tall in some areas already.

“Ground and aerial inspections on private and public land are to be undertaken in the next two months by Council’s Biosecurity Officer to ascertain extent and to advise landowners how they can best achieve their General Biosecurity Duty obligations under the Biosecurity Act 2015 in regard to this toxic highly invasive weed,” he said.

“Council will also be beginning its annual spray control program on St John’s Wort on Council roads and other land under their management in conjunction with Local land Services from the North West.

“One St. John’s wort plant can produce 30,000 seeds annually. These sticky seeds are spread primarily by animals and may remain viable in the ground for more than 20 years.

“It is important that all known infestation sites are regularly monitored. All new plants must be treated before seed set, as everyone left untreated has the potential to produce thousands of new plants.

“It also contains a chemical called hypericin. Livestock that eat it become very sensitive to sunlight resulting in poor health and low productivity,” he said.

For more information please contact Council’s Biosecurity Officer Mike Whitney on 67461755 or follow the links below.

More Information:

https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/Weeds/StJohnsWort

https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/722917/North-West-Regional-Weed-Mgmt-Plan-web-version.pdf