Parkinsonia

(Parkinsonia aculeata)
Parkinsonia
Image above: Parkinsonia plant and flowers, © Forest & Kim Starr.

​​Status of parkinsonia in Tasmania

  • Parkinsonia is a declared weed in Tasmania under the Tasmanian Weed Management Act 1999. The importation, sale and distribution of parkinsonia are prohibited in Tasmania
  • Parkinsonia is also a Weeds of National Significance (WONS)
  • The legal responsibilities of landholders and other stakeholders in dealing with parkinsonia are laid out in the parkinsonia Statutory Weed Management Plan

What does parkinsonia look like?

  • Parkinsonia is a single or multi stemmed bush or small tree growing to 8 metres. The stems are slender and smooth, and tend to droop and zig-zag. The leaves are a flat green leaf stalk with numerous small, green oblong leaflets staggered along both sides. The leaf base is protected by sharp curved spines.
  • The flowers have four yellow petals and a single erect orange or orange-spotted petal. The seed pods are straight with bulges around the seeds and points at both ends.
  • Spread is by seed. Seed is spread in water, and in mud on animals and machinery.
  • See the Weeds Of National Significance website for more information on identifying this weed.
Parkinsonia Parkinsonia
Images above: Parkinsonia plant and flowers, © Forest & Kim Starr.

Impacts of parkinsonia

  • Parkinsonia is a serious weed of rangelands and wetlands.

Where does parkinsonia occur?

  • Parkinsonia is a native of Central America. In Australia, parkinsonia has naturalised in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
  • Parkinsonia does not occur in Tasmania.

What you need to do
  • If you locate parkinsonia anywhere in Tasmania, or if you find a plant that you think could be parkinsonia, immediately contact Biosecurity Tasmania on 03 6165 3777 to report this weed.
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