Koster's curse

• Perennial shrub, generally 50–200cm high.
• Leaves are elliptical, 8–10cm long, arranged in opposite pairs, with distinctive veins giving 'quilted' appearance
• Leaves and stems are covered in stiff, reddish-brown hairs.
• Flowers are small, white, 1–1.5cm in diameter, produced in clusters in leaf forks.
• Berries are hairy and turn dark purple when mature.

• Prefers humid tropical lowlands and waterways.

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

• Mature bush can produce thousands of purple berries and produce seeds all year.
• Flowers throughout year.
• Reproduces vegetatively (from cuttings, detached leaves and stems).
• Tolerates a range of environmental conditions and reaches full maturity in less than 12 months.

Environmental

• Forms dense thickets that smother native vegetation.

Economic

• Smothers plantations and pastures.
• Potential to cause millions of dollars damage to primary production, irreversible damage to sensitive habitats and native plant communities.

• Spread by fruit-eating birds and mammals.
• Also spread by water, machinery and vehicles.

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

• Call 13 25 23 if you find a plant you suspect may be Koster’s curse to seek advice on control options.

• Koster's curse is a category 2, 3, 4 and 5 restricted invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
• You must not keep, move, give away, sell or release Koster’s curse into the environment. Penalties may apply.
• You must report all sightings to Biosecurity Queensland within 24 hours.
• At a local level, each local government must have a biosecurity plan that covers invasive plants in its area. This plan may include actions to be taken on Koster’s curse. Some of these actions may be required under local laws. Contact your local council for more information.