Miconia

• Miconia are small trees up to 15m tall or sprawling shrubs.
• Leaves are large, opposite and generally 60–70cm long, sometimes growing larger in ideal situations.
• Leaves have 3 prominent veins and a distinctive purple underside.
• Flowers are small and white or pinkish. They occur on panicles.
• Fruit are small berries that are 6–7mm across when mature. Berries are green when young and turn purplish/darker as they mature. One panicle can contain hundreds of berries.
• A mature tree with 200 fruiting panicles can produce over 8.9 million seeds per fruiting season. This enables one parent plant to build aggressively invading populations.

• Wet forests, particularly rainforest gullies and forested creek lines
• Tropical and subtropical areas
• Domestic gardens

Visit the Weeds Australia website and click on the distribution tab to access the distribution map.

• Trees take 4 years or more to mature.
• Initial flowering and fruiting of mature M. calvescens trees in Australia generally occurs between March and October.
• Fruit production begins about 2 months after flowering.

• Invades rainforest areas. The most at-risk species include understorey plants (growing below the tree line) such as rare orchids and ferns, shrubby species and small trees.
• Invades landscapes by creating barren understoreys (areas below the tree line).
• Significantly reduces the amount of light available to plants underneath the canopy. This reduces the growth of ground cover and accelerates erosion in high-rainfall catchments and tropical reef catchments.
• Causes hillside instability and erosion due to its shallow root system, with potential run-off damage to tropical coral reefs.
• Because of its superficial and tentacular rooting system, contributes to landslides after heavy rain, leading to further losses of wildlife and native vegetation, and silting of streams.

• Plants are spread by gardeners (for ornamental purposes).
• Seeds are primarily spread by water, birds and other animals.
• Contaminated vehicles, machinery and footwear can spread seeds and plants.

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

Contact us online, by phone or in person if you find a plant you suspect may be miconia to seek advice on control options.

Biological control

• There are no known biological control agents.
• Research for an agent is underway.
• No herbicides are registered to specifically control miconia.

• Miconia is a category 2, 3, 4 and 5 restricted invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
• You must not move, keep, give away or sell miconia, or release it into the environment. Penalties may apply.
• You must report all sightings within 24 hours.
• You must take all reasonable and practical measures that are under your control to minimise the biosecurity risks associated with dealing with miconia. This is called your general biosecurity obligation (GBO).
• Each local government must have a biosecurity plan that covers invasive plants in its area. This plan may include actions to be taken on miconia. Some of these actions may be required under local laws. Contact your local government for more information.