Mexican poppy

Mexican poppy can have all of the following impacts:

• all parts of the plant are toxic to humans and animals but it is generally avoided
• can compete with crops and pastures
• can contaminate feed and poison poultry and other livestock
• rapidly invades disturbed country
• proliferates in dry river beds affecting amenity
• impacts tourism, camping and recreational use of creeks and rivers.

You should use this as a guide. There may be other plants or weeds that look similar.

• up to 1m tall found in seasonal creeks, streambeds, drainage lines and disturbed areas
• smooth branches covered with stiff yellow prickles, release a yellow sap when cut
• distinctive pale blue-green leaves folded into multiple points ending in stiff yellow prickles
• single flowers at the end of branchlets, four to six cream-pale yellow petals, about 6cm across
• fruit are shiny blue-green capsules, covered in rigid spines, opening at the top to expose seeds
• each capsule contains up to 400 brown-black seeds 1.5mm in diameter

To find out more, get the Mexican poppy weed note on the Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security website.

If you are unsure, contact the Weed Management Branch.

Chemical control

The best time to treat Mexican poppy is from December to February. Below is a list of chemicals and treatment methods that can be used.

Non-chemical control

Non-chemical control aims to limit the production and spreading of seeds. Seeds stay dormant in the soil for up to seven years, so getting rid of the weed needs regular follow up control for several years.

Hand pulling and grubbing

Weeds, including their roots, are physically pulled out of the ground by hand or using hand tools. This is an effective method of control for individual weeds and recent outbreaks that haven’t released seeds yet, but it requires a lot of labour.

Take extra precautions to stop seed spread if removal is required once the plants are already seeding.

Mexican poppy is only propagated by seed, which tend to fall near the parent plant, sometimes leading to dense, almost pure stands, but they can be spread by water.

Accidental spread is a problem, through the transfer of contaminated construction materials Inadvertent transport of seed has occurred from river sand extracted from the numerous sand mining extraction licences established in the Todd River and Roe Creek as well as the points of sale of river sand used primarily for construction and back filling.

Users of construction and landscaping products should be aware of the potential for weed spread and establishment.

In central Australia new infestations of Mexican poppy have recently developed in areas where river sand and gravel have been used for landscaping and construction purposes.

You can prevent the spread of Mexican poppy by doing all of the following:

• ask your supplier if the products to be provided are weed free
• avoid suppliers who have previously provided contaminated product
• cover or limit your load to avoid spillage during transport
• keep material contained and make sure no material stays on site
• map infestations to help develop a management plan
• report and manage any new outbreaks immediately
• designate wash down areas and actively work to prevent contamination of clean areas
• monitor all areas which have had river sand or gravel introduced
• monitor areas that you have treated and watch for re-infestations.