Molasses grass

• Perennial mat grass with branched stems up to 90cm long.
• Foliage is sticky with strong, molasses-like odour.
• Reddish leaf blades can be up to 30cm long.
• Purplish slender flower heads are 10-20cm long.

• Grows along roadsides, in disturbed areas, pastures and waste areas.

• Found in coastal districts of eastern Queensland.

• Flowers between April–June.

Environmental

• Adopts densely smothering habit.
• Grows thickly from rooted runners and excludes other species.
• Dense mats may be fire-resistant, and infestations may actually increase after fire as plant invades surrounding burned areas.

• Readily dispersed by wind, vehicles, animals and on clothing.

• Find out how farmers can prevent weed spread.
• Find out how gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts can prevent weed spread.

Physical control

• Manually chip out small infestations or individual plants.
• Cannot tolerate grazing or mowing.

Herbicide control

• Herbicides are effective.

See the Molasses grass fact sheet (PDF, 1.0MB) for herbicide control and application rates.

Biological control

• No known biological control agents.

• Molasses grass is not a prohibited or restricted invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014. However, by law, everyone has a general biosecurity obligation (GBO) to take reasonable and practical steps to minimise the risks associated with invasive plants under their control.
• Local governments must have a biosecurity plan that covers invasive plants in their area. This plan may include actions to be taken on Molasses grass. Some of these actions may be required under local laws. Contact your local government for more information.