PATTERSON’S CURSE

Paterson's Curse (Echium plantagineum L.) is an annual, occasionally biennial, herb that grows as a rosette in autumn and winter and produces flowering stalks in spring and early summer. The rosette usually grows parallel to the ground, however the leaves may be erect in dense vegetation.
Other common name for Patterson's curse: Salvation Jane
Herbaceous plant — Forb (flowering herbaceous plant — not a grass) Mauve flower of Paterson's curse

Paterson's Curse can form very extensive, dense, persistent populations in disturbed areas. It is a very competitive and dominant species, especially in areas where grazing pressure is low and soil fertility is high (Piggin & Sheppard 1995). Its high early growth rate, stout taproot and large smothering rosette leaves enable it to compete vigorously with seedlings of native and useful pasture species (Muyt 2001; Weber 2003). Early germination, coupled with a fast-growing root system, contribute to the competitive success of this species (Piggin & Sheppard 1995). Significant drought resistance of seedlings explains why Paterson's Curse is abundant in years when summer rainfalls are followed by periods of drought (Piggin & Sheppard 1995).

In Australia, Paterson's Curse is widely naturalised and often abundant throughout south-western Western Australia, central and southern South Australia, south-eastern Queensland, central and southern New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania (Piggin & Sheppard 1995). In the Northern Territory, it has been recorded between Alice Springs and the South Australia/Northern Territory border, where it is mainly confined to areas of roadside along the Stuart Highway (Piggin & Sheppard 1995; Gracie 1998). Paterson's Curse is also naturalised in South Africa, New Zealand, and North and South America (Weber 2003; Piggin & Sheppard 1995).

Spray FireHawk Bioherbicide Concentrate: 50 mL/L of water. Respray if required