Menu
woolly nightshade plant woolly nightshade plant

Wipe out woolly nightshade

Wipe out Woolly nightshade this summer! 

Do you live in or around Kawerau, Te Teko or Edgecumbe in the Bay of Plenty? Have you got Woolly nightshade on your property?

If you answered yes to both of these questions, Bay of Plenty Regional Council is here to help. Our team is targeting this part of the region this summer with our annual Woolly Wipeout campaign in order to support landowners and occupiers in the management of this pest plant. 

Register below for a FREE Woolly wipeout kit that includes:
•    one pair of gloves
•    one folding handsaw
•    one herbicide paste gel
•    one control advice fact sheet. 

After you’ve registered, one of our team will be in touch to organise a time to drop off the kit, provide a demonstration and advice tailored to your Woolly nightshade infestation. After our first visit, we will reach out again in March 2026 to see how you got on and if you were successful.

Woolly wipe out kit

Woolly Nightshade map

If you live in the above places and have Woolly nightshade plants on your property register now for your FREE Woolly nightshade wipeout kit by filling in the form below. 
Properties outside of this area will not be considered at this time. 

Register below for your free woolly nightshade kit

Yes
No

Woolly wipeout requests are only available to the owners or occupiers of the property with this pest plant present. To report a pest plant issue on a neighbouring property or to enquire about another pest plant issues please visit our Pests section or contact us at stop.pests@boprc.govt.nz

Once you sign up for the kit, one of our team will contact you to visit your property, assess the Woolly nightshade situation and provide guidance around how best to manage it. You’ll also be shown the best way to use the kit materials.

After 6-12 months one of our team will check back in with you to see how your control efforts are going and offer advice on the next steps if further support is required.   

Yes
No
  • Kits are available for a limited time: November 2025 to End of December 2025, or until stocks run out.
  • The kit includes: one pair of gloves, one folding handsaw, one herbicide paste gel, one control advice fact sheet. The kits are a starter kit so owners or occupiers may need to purchase more material to complete the task at their own expense.
  • One kit per property, can not be claimed over consecutive years.
  • Kits are delivered in person along with a short demonstration on how to use it.
  • Property must be owned / occupied by person requesting the kit.
  • This service is available in the Bay of plenty region, specifically the Kawerau, Edgecumbe and Te Teko areas only, and is only for properties that have woolly nightshade present.
  • Kits are first in first served; we reserve the right to stop this programme at any time.
  • This is a popular service so please allow up to 2 months for our team to make contact and deliver the kit.

Please note that by providing your personal information above, you consent to being contacted and visited by one of our staff for an initial visit and follow-up communication within a year from the first contact. 

I agree to the terms and conditions

Why is it a pest?

  • It forms dense stands which crowd out all other plants.
  • It flowers continuously during the warmer months, producing lots of seeds.
  • Birds eat the berries and can spread the seeds long distances, including native bush.
  • Seedlings established in summer can go on to grow and produce seeds by autumn in the same year.
  • Seeds in the soil can germinate up to 20-30 years later.
  • The dust from the leaves and stems can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat.
  • The berries are poisonous to humans, cattle and pigs if eaten.

What does woolly nightshade look like?

  • It is quite distinctive with all parts of the plant covered in short dusty hairs, and whitish, branching, soft-woody stems.
  • Dense clusters of mauve to purple flowers during the warmer months, followed by clusters of round berries that ripen from green to dull yellow.
  • Leaves have a strong astringent kerosene like smell especially when rubbed or crushed.
  • Spreading, shrub or small tree which grows up to 10m tall.
woolly nightshade
woolly nightshade
woolly nightshade
woolly nightshade
woolly nightshade
woolly nightshade

How to get rid of Woolly nightshade

Hand pulling

  • Seedlings and small plants can easily be pulled up or dug out.
  • Shake off excess soil and either leave on the ground to rot down or put in with the green waste

Spraying

  • Most suitable for a large number of smaller plants
  • Ensure thorough coverage of the plants with a light spray
  • With a knapsack use triclopyr/picloram mix (eg Tordon brushkiller) - 60ml per 10L water
  • With a handgun use triclopyr/picloram mix (eg Tordon brushkiller) – 300ml/100L water

Keep an eye out for the young seedlings and pull them out.

Remember that touching the leaves and stems can sometimes cause irritations so use gloves and a mask.

Cut & paste

  • Cut the plants down as close to the ground as possible
  • Use the cut & paste herbicide provided following instructions included
  • Alternative herbicide is glyphosate (e.g. Roundup) at 1 part glyphosate to 4 parts water.
  • Use at any time of the year for scattered plants

Stem frilling and injecting

  • Refer to the video for detailed instructions on this technique
  • Can be used at any time of year for larger plants
  • It is important that all cuts overlap for this technique to work
  • Recommended herbicide is glyphosate (e.g. Roundup) used at label recommendations.

  • These free Woolly nighshade kits are for helping people to take personal responsibility for controlling woolly nightshade.
  • If your neighbour has woolly nightshade tell them about this activity and encourage them to get involved.

Find out more about woolly nightshade and the rules that apply to landowners/occupiers.