Eurasian water milfoil

• Submersed aquatic plant.
• Emergent flower heads are orange to red.
• Leaves are dissected, 'feathery', in whorls of 4, contain 12–21 leaflets.
• Long stems form surface-reaching mats.
• Plant forms turions (dormant, detached buds) for overwintering.
• Rhizomes root to 10m depth, can grow 3–5m to surface.

• Prefers slow-flowing and standing water bodies.
• Can grow in fresh and saline water.
• Grows well in nutrient-rich water.

• Not know to occur in Queensland.

• Begins growth in spring with increasing water temperature, achieves maximum growth in water above 18°C.
• Flowers in summer once stems reach water surface, pollinated by wind and insects.
• Plants fragment after flowering and die back to rhizomes towards winter; rhizomes resprout in spring.

Environmental

• Grows quickly in calm water bodies such as reservoirs and dams, eventually blocking waterway.
• Displaces native aquatic plants and reduces biodiversity.
• Dense infestations can affect water quality.
• Creates favourable mosquito habitat.

Social

• Impedes recreational activities such as water skiing and fishing.
• Interferes with infrastructure such as irrigation.
• Poses danger for swimmers, who can become entangled.

• Propagates through seeds and stem fragments.
• Seeds can be spread by waterbirds.
• Fragments are spread by water currents and humans and are main way plant spreads.

• 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.

Herbicide control

• Controlled with herbicides overseas (2,4D, Diquat, endothall, copper, fluridone).

Biological control

• No known biological control agents.

• Eurasian water milfoil 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 Eurasian water milfoil.
• You must take any action that is reasonably likely to minimise the biosecurity threat posed by Eurasian water milfoil.
• You must report all sightings to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours.