29 April 2025
Have you spotted moth plant?
This plant pest is a rapid-growing evergreen climbing vine with milky sap that bleeds from all damaged parts.
Moth plant grows up to 10m high very quickly and will completely smother and over-top shrubs, small trees, hedges, fence lines and gardens.
It’s commonly spotted by its flowers from December to May and establishes in all most any frost-free habitat, gardens, urban reserves and intact or disturbed forest margins.
It looks similar to Choko fruit but the leaves are more grape-like.
Best practice for managing moth plant
Residents are urged to take precautions when handling moth plant to prevent skin irritation and reduce its spread.
Gloves are recommended to avoid direct contact with the plant's sap.
To effectively manage moth plant:
- Destroy ripe pods first to minimise seeding.
- Pull out seedlings throughout the year to prevent further spread.
- For larger plants, cut the roots 5cm above the ground and apply a suitable woody weed killer to the stump, following manufacturer guidelines.
- All pods must be removed, placed in a disposable bag, and disposed of through regular rubbish collection or at a transfer station.
- Vines should be left to dry out in an area where they cannot contact soil or compost, as they can re-root. Alternatively, vines can be burnt or deeply buried to prevent regrowth.
By following these steps, we can reduce the impact of moth plant and help protect our local environment.
For more information on control methods for most pests - see our Pest Hub
