Tropical soda apple

• Upright, multi-branched perennial shrub 0.5–2m tall.
• Stems have thorn-like prickles up to 12mm long.
• Leaves are 10–20cm long, 6–15cm wide, covered with short hairs and white prickles.
• Flowers are white with 5 recurved petals and white to cream-coloured stamens.
• Immature fruits are smooth, round, mottled light and dark green like a watermelon.
• Mature fruits are yellow, 1–3cm in diameter, with leathery skin surrounding pale green, scented pulp, each containing 180 to 240 seeds.
• Seeds are pale brown, tear-shaped, 3mm across.

• Prefers open, disturbed sites, especially pastures and areas around cattle yards.
• Prefers coastal, high-rainfall habitats in tropical and subtropical areas.

• First detected in Queensland in November 2010 near Coominya in South East Queensland.
• Currently small number of isolated infestations in Queensland.

• Reproduces from seeds.
• Flowers autumn–winter.
• Fruit sets in winter.

Economic

• Invades and replace pasture, including improved pasture.
• Leaves are unpalatable to livestock (although fruit are readily eaten).
• Provides an alternative host for at least 6 viruses that affect various vegetables.

• Seeds spread primarily by cattle but also by birds, feral pigs, deer, contaminated hay, and water.

• Find out how farmers can prevent weed spread.
• Find out how gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts can prevent weed spread.

Before undertaking any preventative or control actions, contact our Customer Service Centre.

Physical control

• Hand-pull or chip out isolated plants and small infestations, making sure to remove all roots and stem fragments.

Herbicide control

• Herbicides such as Grazon Extra, Grazon DS + Brushoff, Roundup Bioactive + Brushoff are permitted for use in Queensland under Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority permit no. PER12942. For full application directions, read permit and critical use comments.

• Tropical soda apple is a prohibited invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
• You must not keep, move, give away, sell or release into the environment. Penalties may apply.
• You must not take any action reasonably likely to exacerbate the biosecurity threat posed by tropical soda apple.
• You must take any action that is reasonably likely to minimise the biosecurity threat posed by tropical soda apply.
• You must report all sightings to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours.