Rubber Vine (Cryptostegia spp)
Rubber vine is a poisonous, woody climbing plant that can reach up to 15 metres high. It invades rivers and creeks, strangles vegetation, is poisonous to livestock and can prevent animals accessing water. Its rampant growth inhibits and smothers native vegetation and ecosystems.
It is a Class A (to be eradicated) and Class C (not to be introduced) weed in the Northern Territory in accordance with the NT Weeds Management Act..
Its ability to spread and colonise quickly has led to it becoming a threat to many areas of Northern Australia and being listed as a weed of national significance and it is regarded as one of Australia’s worst weeds.
Rubber vine occupies about 3.5 million ha in Queensland (an area about the size of Victoria) and is spreading to the Northern Territory at a rate of 1-3% per year. There have been isolated infestations in Western Australia. It has a potential distribution which could cover all of Northern Queensland, the Top End of the Northern Territory and Pilbarra regions of Western Australia.
A rubber vine containment line was established between the Queensland and Northern Territory boarder in 1999 and all infestations outside this line are targets for eradication while inside the line integrated control to minimise impact is being carried out.
Rubber vine spreads quickly and is hard to control once established. Effective control of rubber vine can be achieved by adopting an integrated control program.
Rubber Vine Out of Control at Kamilaroi
Rubber vine ~ can you identify it?
- Flowers are 5-6 cm long, white to pale pink or purple colour with five petals arranged in a bell shape
- The leaves are shiny dark green, arranged in opposite pairs, 6-10cm long and 3-5cm wide on long smooth stems. The stems release a milky sap when broken or cut.
- The seeds form in large pods that grow mostly in pairs. The pods are 10-12 cm long, 3-4 cm wide. The seeds have a tuft of long white silky hair and are easily spread by wind, water and birds.
- Flyer "Rubber vine - can you indentify it" (pdf 277Kb)
- Flyer "Don’t let rubber vine strangle the Territory" (pdf 80Kb)
Cryptostegia madagascariensis
(Also known as ornamental rubber vine and known to be present in the NT)
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Distinguishing features
- Short pods (less than 10cm)
- Small number of seeds (up to 126 per pod)
- White-coloured leaf mid-ribs and stalkes, and purplish flowers
Cryptostegia grandiflora Not known to be in NT – Report sightings immediately
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Rubber vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora)
Distinguishing features
- Pods between 10-12cm long
- Seeds averaging around 350 per pod
- Glossy dark green leaves
- Light-purple to white flowers
If you see this weed please contact the Weed Management Branch immediately on 8999 4567 or email weedinfo.nretas@nt.gov.au
