Velvetleaf

Abutilon theophrasti

On this page:

What does it look like? •
Report sightings of velvetleaf •
Why is it a pest? •
Responsibility for control •
Removing velvetleaf •
Control methods •
Restricted places •
More information

Management programme

Progressive containment

Objectives

Reduce the amount of velvetleaf and limit the locations that have it in the Waikato region.

Impacts

Economic

Important message from Waikato Regional Council:

Velvetleaf is in the Waikato region. It is one of the world's worst cropping weeds and has spread to properties in the Waikato region via:

unclean machinery
infested maize crops, maize silage and maize grain.

One of the world’s most invasive pest plants, velvetleaf damages arable crops by competing with them for nutrients, space, and water. It is an unwanted organism under the Biosecurity Act and, as such, entry to New Zealand is prohibited.

More information is at: www.mpi.govt.nz/velvetleaf.

What does it look like?

Velvetleaf is an annual broadleaved herb that grows to between 0.5m and 2.5m tall.

Flowers

Buttery-yellow flowers about 3cm across.
Each flower is only open for a few hours.
Flowers from spring through autumn.

Fruit/seeds

Distinctive seed capsules with 12-15 woody, hairy segments in a cup-like ring.
Each seed capsule is about 2.5cm in diameter.
Segments remain intact at maturity, each releasing 1-3 seeds through an opening at the top.

Leaves/stems

Leaves are large, heart-shaped, and velvety to the touch (hence the name).
Crushed or bruised leaves give off an unpleasant smell.

Report sightings of velvetleaf

Farmers are encouraged to report suspected sightings of velvetleaf to biosecurity pest plant staff on 0800 800 401).

This will allow our staff to assess the property and then work with farmers on a plan if we confirm the presence of velvetleaf. Anyone who thinks they have found velvetleaf should:

photograph any plants
mark the location of plants so they can be found again easily.

Do you need support?

Famers requiring help to deal with the stress of the velvetleaf incursion are encouraged to call the Rural Support Trust on 0800 787 254 or contact them online.

Why is it a pest?

Velvetleaf is a serious cropping weed that can significantly reduce crop yields (by up to 70 per cent). Once established it is difficult to control; it is resistant to many herbicides, and normal weed management practices don’t control it. This is part due to its very long-lived seeds, that can remain dormant in the soil for up to 60 years if left undisturbed. Velvetleaf seedlings too are vigorous and new plants grow rapidly in the first few months after germination.

A member of the mallow family, velvetleaf is already present in New Zealand, including in the Waikato region. A national outbreak in 2016 was linked to imported fodder beet seed that was infested with velvetleaf.

However, Waikato incursions of velvetleaf have also been linked to the movement of infested maize crops and maize silage, unclean machinery, and stock that have eaten infested feed. The seed can survive in maize silage and in the gut of cattle, meaning it can potentially be spread rapidly through farms. Farm, crop and machinery hygiene are important strategies for the prevention and control of this problem pest.

Responsibility for control

Anyone who sees an infestation of velvetleaf should inform the Waikato Regional Council, within five working days of seeing it.

Farmers are encouraged to report any suspected sightings of velvetleaf in the Waikato region (rule YFL-1 of the Waikato Regional Pest Management Plan 2022-2032) to the Waikato Regional Council.

Occupiers and farm contractors need to be vigilant about ensuring machinery is clean when entering and leaving a property, and in checking any suspect maize and silage crops.

All occupiers within the Waikato region are responsible for controlling velvetleaf on their properties.

All occupiers in the Waikato region are responsible for the control of velvetleaf on their property, and for liaising with the council in areas where control programmes are in place (rule VEL-2 of the RPMP 2022-2032).

If velvetleaf is present on a property that is to be subdivided or developed, there are additional rules and requirements that apply under section 6.6 of the RPMP 2022-2032.

Velvetleaf is banned from being sold, propagated, distributed, or included in commercial displays.

Removing velvetleaf

There are strict protocols to assist with the safe removal of velvetleaf.

If seed heads have not formed:

hand pull plants.
spraying is an option where small seedlings are abundant.

If seed heads are present on the plant:

carefully place a large bag over the seed capsules and flowers
tie the bag tightly around the stem
bend the stem in half
pull out the plant and place in another bag.

If seed heads have blackened:

place drop sheet on the ground, tightly against the stem to catch any falling seed
carefully place a large bag over the seed capsules and secure tightly around the stem
pick up and bag any seeds which have fallen onto the drop sheet
check soil for fallen seeds or seed capsules. If seed has dropped, consider soil removal into a bag.

Contact Waikato Regional Council pest plant staff on 0800 800 401 for advice on disposal. Do not bury bags of velvetleaf on farm.

Control methods

If you suspect you have velvetleaf on your property, contact our pest plant staff on 0800 800 401. Waikato Regional Council staff will work with you to develop an individual biosecurity plan which will include long term
management options to control velvetleaf on your property and reduce the risk of spread.

Summary of herbicides and application methods for control

Herbicide	Application
2, 4-D	Spray application (broadcast) for pasture.
Aminopyralid/triclopyr	Spray application (spot-spray) for pasture.
Acetochlor plus saflufenacil	Spray application (pre-emergence) for maize.
Topramezone (Arietta ®), dicamba (e.g. KambaTM) or mesotrione	Spray application (post-emergence) for maize.
Herbicide rules will apply. You may need to notify neighbours if spraying. The Waikato Regional Plan explains the agrichemical (herbicides) use rule in section 6.2, online at www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/regionalplan.

Tips – stopping the spread :

Velvetleaf can spread by soil movement, stock feed and equipment such as diggers, crop harvesting machinery and farm machinery. Take special care not to transport it to new sites. Farmers should protect their properties from velvetleaf and other serious plant pests by:

insisting all contractors practice good weed hygiene, cleaning their equipment before entering the farm
ensuring supplementary feed brought onto the farm is weed free
ensuring manures, aggregates, soil and sand brought onto the farm are weed free
checking feed crops before purchase to ensure they are weed free.

Restricted places

A restricted place is an area of land that has a high risk pest plant, such as velvetleaf and alligator weed. Waikato Regional Council uses its statutory powers under the Biosecurity Act 1993, to declare an area a “restricted place”. Velvetleaf and alligator weed are currently the only pest plants in the Waikato region that require restricted place notices. Restricted place notices remain in force until an authorised person formally notifies the landowner in writing.
Landowners and occupiers are responsible for controlling velvetleaf on their properties. No person shall move, or allow to be moved, any velvetleaf propagules from a contaminated property. No person shall move, or allow to be moved, cultivating/harvesting machinery, any organism, risk goods or other goods into or out of a property that may be contaminated with velvetleaf, without the permission of an authorised person. Velvetleaf is also banned from being sold, propagated, distributed or included in commercial displays.
A breach of a restricted place notice can have very severe consequences such as fines and/or imprisonment as outlined by the Biosecurity Act 1993.
Velvetleaf can be spread by people. For example, machinery operators, cable diggers, utility workers and subcontractors are often not aware of the potential risks their activities pose with pest plants.
Many farmers and other landowners are similarly unaware of how their land could become infested by plant pests such as velvetleaf.
Not all velvetleaf sties have restricted place notices. Only high risk sites where:
- some human activities causing a high risk of velvetleaf being spread include activities relating to the arable industry, including moving soil, making silage, and moving stock and feed, and
- where landowners knowingly undertake activities which cause the spread of velvetleaf.
Once a restricted place notice is served, the council implements a weed management plan with the landowner/s.
a) No soil or vegetation is to leave the complex while the restricted place notice remains in force. All agricultural equipment with the potential to move velvetleaf seed and/or infested material off site must be washed down with a high pressure hose, on the infected site, to help prevent spread of velvetleaf to new areas. This must be checked by Waikato Regional Council before the equipment is moved to a new site.
b) Waikato Regional Council’s access to the restricted place is to be allowed, as becomes necessary, for the purposes of inspection, surveying and monitoring.
c) The owner/occupier has a strict obligation to keep all staff and contractors, current and potential residents/tenants and outside contractors who operate in the restricted place, informed of the status of this area as a restricted place. It is the landowner that will be prosecuted if the condition of a restricted place is breached.
d) Any new sites of velvetleaf found in this or any other area must be reported to a Waikato Regional Council biosecurity pest plant officer immediately.
e) The owner/occupier may be required to display a sign (example sign used for alligator weed [PDF, 1.7 MB]) provided by Waikato Regional Council at all entrances and exits informing of their status as a Restricted Place.
Restricted place notices for velvetleaf have been issued to private land in the region. Please contact Waikato Regional Council for more information about these sites.

More information

Advice

For advice and additional information on velvetleaf, call our pest plant staff on freephone 0800 800 401.
Chemical company representatives, farm supply stores, garden centres or the Weedbusters website can also be good sources for advice.

Publications

The following publications are available for download or from Waikato Regional Council. Contact us to request a copy (freephone 0800 800 401).