Published on 25 July 2024
Have You Seen this Plant?
Green Cestrum All parts of Green Cestrum are poisonous. Wear gloves and other protective clothing when handling the plant.
How does this weed affect us? Green cestrum is a shrub that: ⦁ is poisonous to people, pets, livestock and native animals ⦁ may reduce livestock productivity when infested pastures cannot be grazed due to poisoning risks ⦁ outcompetes other vegetation ⦁ reduces food and shelter for native animals. Even though it is not very palatable, animals may eat it when other feed is scarce. Green cestrum contains a poison called carboxyparquin that causes liver and brain damage. Bushes are still poisonous after they have been cut down or sprayed. Where are you likely to find it? Green cestrum has been found in all regions of NSW. It grows in sub tropical and warm-temperate regions. It is frost tolerant and grows in a wide range of soil types and rainfall. It is common in alluvial soils along waterways. It also grows along fencelines and forest edges and in woodlands and grasslands. Human poisoning All parts of the plant, especially the berries, are very toxic if eaten. Eating green cestrum causes liver poisoning and can be fatal. Avoid touching the plant with bare skin. What to do if a person is poisoned: If the patient is unconscious, unresponsive or having difficulty breathing dial 000 or get to the emergency section of a hospital immediately. If the patient is conscious and responsive, call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 or your doctor.
What does it look like? Green cestrum is a shrub that grows 2–3 m high. It usually has many light-green, brittle stems. It sometimes grows into thickets. Leaves are shiny, green to dark green, 8–10 cm long and 1–3 cm wide. Lance-shaped and pointed at both ends, with smooth edges, and foul-smelling. Flowers are normally yellow, trumpet-shaped in clusters at the end of branches, present from late spring to autumn. Fruit are shiny egg-shaped berries, green when young, black when ripe. Stems and young branches are whitish, older branches are woody, light green, Remove livestock away from paddocks when controlling green cestrum. Do not return stock until the leaf material has disintegrated or been removed. Even treated and wilting plants can cause death if eaten.
If you spot this weed, report it. Weddin Shire Weeds Team: 0458 022 102 NSW DPI Biosecurity Helpline: 1800 680 244 For control and biosecurity information and the source of this article, visit NSW WeedWise: https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/Weeds/GreenCestrum Follow this link for a helpful video on Green Cestrum. "How to identify Green Cestrum", Macquarie Valley Weeds Advisory Committee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3l3fx5Ov3E