Spotlight on Paterson’s Curse

It might look like beautiful purple clouds on hills, but Paterson’s Curse is no blessing to graziers and farmers . Paterson's Curse (Echium plantagineum) is from the borage family, and it was allegedly first planted by the Paterson family of Cumberoona, New South Wales, who planted it in their garden in the 1880s.

In other parts of Australia, it is sometimes called Salvation Jane, Blueweed, Lady Campbell Weed or the Riverina Bluebell.

Paterson’s Curse is a declared plant (noxious weed) and is a target for biological control. The NSW Department of Primary Industries advises that a single plant can produce 5,000 seeds, making it particularly prolific. The problem with the plant is that it contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are toxic to livestock, particularly horses. Even though sheep can graze it for a time, prolonged grazing of Paterson’s Curse is harmful because the alkaloids eventually cause liver damage, especially if stock consume large amounts of this weed in winter and spring and then graze on common heliotrope over summer. Biological control of Paterson’s Curse includes the use of four insects: Root Weevil, Crown Weevil, Flea Beetle, and Pollen Beetle. Other methods of control include slashing, burning, hand weeding, and spraying with herbicide. For more information about Paterson’s Curse and its control, visit the NSW Department of Primary Industries website: https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/Weeds/Details/102

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• Agriculture