Moth plant has caused havoc in the North Island, particularly in Northland. So far, it has only been found at a handful of sites in Tasman, and we need your help to keep it that way.
Moth plant (Araujia hortorum) aka milk vine or false choko, is an evergreen climbing vine, with distinctive, smelly, milky sap that can irritate the skin.
Moth plant fruits are very distinctive. They resemble chokos, with large, leathery green pods (10 x 7cm) shaped like an upside-down pear. Each pod contains hundreds of black seeds with white fluffy ‘parachutes’, like a thistle.
Narrow leaves grow opposite each other on the vine and are dark green above and dull grey below. Flowers are small (20 – 25mm), white and appear from December to May.
Moth plant grows quickly to the canopy where it smothers plants and creates a long-lived, heavy mass that can produce many seed pods each season.
When the pods mature, the seeds are dispersed on wind currents far and wide, making them difficult to contain once they become established. This vine tolerates shade, drought, wind, dampness and damage. It is however susceptible to frost, which is helpful for us here in Tasman.
It’s now listed as an eradication pest plant in the Tasman-Nelson Regional Pest Management Plan which means people must report any sightings to us.
If you think you have moth plant on your property or have seen it around the District, please let our Biosecurity team know on 03 543 8400 or [email protected].