Tropical soda apple is an aggressive, prickly shrub that readily invades riverside and pasture areas. It spreads quickly and impacts agricultural land, forest, riparian zones, roadsides and parks, displacing native or existing plants.

The plant is a host for many diseases and pests of cultivated crops, and it contains solasodine which is poisonous to humans. It is spread through cattle movement and baled grass, by flood, as well as by other animals that eat the fruit such as deer, pigs and birds.

There have been many isolated outbreaks of tropical soda apple across the North Coast Local Land Services region, with substantial investment from State and local governments to try and stop it from taking over valuable farmlands. Research undertaken by Local Land Services has shown that the number of tropical soda apple infestation sites have grown from half a dozen in 2010 when it was first discovered to over 25,000 locations in the past five years.

The spread of tropical soda apple can be attributed to movement of contaminated cattle that had recently eaten the fruit (and therefore seeds) being sold or moved to uninfested catchments. Tropical soda apple seeds are not affected by the digestive processes in cattle and are ready to sprout in the manure pats in the right weather conditions. Floodwaters can also carry the seed through catchments.

In response, North Coast Local Land Services is teaming up with a range of partners such as Orara Valley RiverCare Groups, Coffs Harbour Bushland Regeneration Group, Mid North Coast Weeds, Far North Coast Weeds and Coffs Harbour, Clarence Valley, Nambucca, Kempsey and Port Macquarie Hastings councils - just to name a few - to help combat the highest priority weed infestations across the region.

“Weed control is a labour intensive and costly business, so any financial help is always welcomed by councils, landholders and environmental groups,” Local Land Services senior officer Max Osborne said .

“In the southern part of our region, for example, we’re assisting Kempsey Shire Council employ a specialist tropical soda apple weed officer to undertake inspections on private properties. We are also contributing towards the costs for weed contractors to treat this Class 1 noxious weed in difficult terrain along the Macleay River riparian zone.”

As a ‘Class 1’ weed, it is the responsibility of landholders to report occurrences of this weed within 24 hours of detection. If you believe you may have Tropical Soda Apple on your property, call your Local Council Weeds Officer for further advice on the best methods of control.