Kochia
Alert
Be on the lookout for kochia and report any sightings immediately.
Reporting options
- Report online.
- Phone Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.
- Phone the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
Kochia seedling
© Phil Westra Creative Commons
Kochia yellow flowers and leaves
© Phil Westra Creative Commons
Kochia with red foliage and flowers
© Leslie Mehrhoff Creative Commons
Kochia small bushes with red foliage
© Leslie Mehrhoff Creative Commons
Kochia infestation in cornfield
© Phil Westra Creative Commons
Kochia mature infestation
© Phil Westra Creative Commons
Native to Europe and Asia, kochia is a small annual plant. It was grown as an ornamental hedge around gardens and is sometimes sold in nurseries under the name 'burning bush', due to its red-tinged foliage at certain times of year. It is a serious invasive plant in North America. While it is not known to exist in Queensland, it has the potential to become a serious problem if it is ever introduced and planted.
Scientific name
Bassia scoparia syn. Kochia scoparia
Other names
- Burning bush
Description
- This small annual plant grows up to 1.5m tall.
- Leaves are alternate, 50mm long and 8mm wide.
- Flowers are small and found at the branch tip.
- Fruit are star-shaped and 2mm wide. Each contains a single seed.
Habitat
- Tolerates drought.
- Prefers most soil types.
- Found along railway lines and roadsides.
Distribution
- Not known to occur in Queensland.
Life cycle
- Reproduces by seed only.
- Produces about 14,000 seeds in late summer.
- Seeds germinate in spring.
Plants affected
- Pasture
- Crops
Impacts
Economic
- Potential to invade crops and pastures.
How it is spread
- Seeds spread by wind.
Prevention
- Find out how farmers can prevent weed spread.
- Find out how gardeners and outdoor enthusiasts can prevent weed spread.
Control
- Before undertaking any preventative or control actions, contact us online, by phone or in person.
Legal requirements
- Kochia is a prohibited invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014. You must not:
- keep it
- move it
- give it away
- sell it
- release it into the environment.
If you do any of these, penalties may apply.
- You must not take any action that is reasonably likely to exacerbate the biosecurity threat posed by kochia.
- You must take any action that is reasonably likely to minimise the biosecurity threat posed by kochia.
- You must report any sightings immediately using 1 of these methods:
- Report online.
- Phone Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.
- Phone the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
Further information
Contact us online, by phone or in person.