Detailed information sheet

Click on the photos for a larger image.

Botanical name : Hypericum androsaemum Family : Clusiaceae (St John’s wort) family  Common name : tutsan  Also known as : sweet amber    Where is it originally from? : South and Western Europe What does it look like? : Small, perennial, hairless, semi-evergreen shrub to 1.5 m with fibrous roots and no rhizomes. Stems are semi-woody, winged, usually reddish, and often lax. Fragrant stalkless ovalish leaves (35-100 x 25-50 mm) are opposite, usually bluish underneath and usually turn red in autumn. Yellow, 5-petalled flowers (15-25 mm diameter) with long stamens appear from November to February, followed by round red berries (1 cm diameter) that ripen to black and contain cylindrical or curved seeds (9-10 mm long). Are there any similar species? : Rose of Sharon (Hypericum calycinum) has 7-9 cm diameter flowers, dry fruits, 4-angled stems and rhizomes. H x inodorum has fleshy fruit.  Why is it weedy? : Produces many, long-lived, well dispersed seed. Tolerates semi-shade, hot or cold temperatures, high to moderate rainfall, damage and grazing (rare). How does it spread? : Birds and possibly possums, and soil and water movement. Common seed sources include roadsides, farms, waste land, old gardens, and cemeteries.  What damage does it do? : Invades regenerating sites, forms dense stands, and prevents establishment of native plant seedlings. Usually succeeded by taller vegetation, but is persistent in shorter habitats.  Which habitats is it likely to invade? : Disturbed forest and shrubland, low-growing habitats, tussockland, bare land, and rocklands. Usually high rainfall areas.  What can I do to get rid of it? : 1. Dig out small spots. Leave on site to rot down. 2. Cut down and paint stump (spring-summer only): metsulferon-methyl 600g/kg (5g/L).  3. Spray (November-January): glyphosate (10ml/L + penetrant) or metsulferon-methyl 600g/kg (5g/10L) or triclopyr 600 EC (50ml/10L) or Yates Hydrocotyle Killer (250ml/10L). What can I do to stop it coming back? : Reseeds onto bared sites. Occasionally resprouts from roots after poor spray kill. Difficult to kill, herbicide timing important. In regenerating tall forest, may be left to natural succession. Replant bared sites densely to minimise seedlings.

For more detailed botanical descriptions of weed species, check out the Plant Conservation Network's website at http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/exotic_plant_life_and_weeds/index.asp

Click here for Herbicides and Trade names

*The chemical control methods in this manual were devised by Department of Conservation staff for Department of Conservation operations and should not be used as a substitute for the pesticide manufacturer's label instructions. The Department of Conservation takes no responsibility for any liability or damage to any person, property or thing which may occur as a result of the use of any pesticide in accordance with the chemical control methods contained on this website.

Back to search results