Weedbusters

Working together to protect New Zealand

  • Home
  • Weedbusters
    • Who are Weedbusters?
  • What Are Weeds?
    • Weed List
    • Controlling Weeds
    • Disposing of Weed Waste
    • Banned Plants
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Weedbuster
    • Weedbusters Near You
    • Weed Quiz
  • Resources
    • How to…
    • Weedbusting Guide
    • Plant Me Instead Booklet
    • Using Weedbuster photographs
    • Useful Links
  • Contact Us
You Are Here:
  1. Home
  2. What Are Weeds?
  3. Weed List
  4. Tutsan
What Are Weeds?

Weed Information Sheet

  • Weed List
  • Controlling Weeds
    • Controlling Pest Shrubs & Trees
    • Controlling Pest Vines
    • Controlling Pest Herbs & Ground Covers
    • Controlling Pest Grasses
    • Controlling Pest Aquatic Weeds
  • Disposing of Weed Waste
  • Banned Plants

Popular Links

  • Weed List
  • Weed Quiz
  • Weedbusters Near You

Browse weeds by alphabet

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Tutsan

Botanical Name

Hypericum androsaemum

Family

Clusiaceae (St John’s wort) family

Also known as

Sweet amber

Where is it originally from?

South and Western Europe

What does it look like?

Small, perennial, hairless, semi-evergreen shrub (<1.5 m) with fibrous roots and no rhizomes. Stems are semi-woody, winged, usually reddish, and often lax. Fragrant stalkless ovalish leaves (35-100 x 25-50 mm) are opposite, usually bluish underneath and usually turn red in autumn. Yellow, 5-petalled flowers (15-25 mm diameter, Nov-Feb) with long stamens are followed by round red berries (1 cm diameter) that ripen to black and contain cylindrical or curved seeds (9-10 mm long).

Are there any similar species?

Rose of Sharon (Hypericum calycinum) has 7-9 cm diameter flowers, dry fruits, 4-angled stems and rhizomes. H x inodorum has fleshy fruit.

Why is it weedy?

Produces many, long-lived, well dispersed seed. Tolerates semi-shade, hot or cold temperatures, high to moderate rainfall, damage and grazing (rare).

How does it spread?

Birds and possibly possums, and soil and water movement. Common seed sources include roadsides, farms, waste land, old gardens and cemeteries.

What damage does it do?

Invades regenerating sites, forms dense stands, and prevents establishment of native plant seedlings. Usually succeeded by taller vegetation, but is persistent in shorter habitats.

Which habitats is it likely to invade?

Disturbed forest and shrubland, low-growing habitats, tussockland, bare land, and rocklands. Usually high rainfall areas.

What can I do to get rid of it?

1. Dig out small spots. Leave on site to rot down.
2. Cut down and paint stump (spring-summer only): metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (5g/L).
3. Spray (Nov-Jan): glyphosate (10ml/L + penetrant) or metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (5g/10L) or triclopyr 600 EC (50ml/10L) or triclopyr 120g/L (250ml/10L).

CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide, PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and directions for the purchase, use and storage of the product, are followed and adhered to.

What can I do to stop it coming back?

Reseeds onto bared sites. Occasionally resprouts from roots after poor spray kill. Difficult to kill, herbicide timing important. In regenerating tall forest, may be left to natural succession. Replant bared sites densely to minimise seedlings.

Images

Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis
Photo: Carolyn Lewis

Download PDF Information Sheet

Browse/Search Weeds

Weedbusters

  • Who are Weedbusters?

What Are Weeds?

  • Weed List
  • Controlling Weeds
  • Disposing of Weed Waste
  • Banned Plants

Get Involved

  • Become a Weedbuster
  • Weedbusters Near You
  • Weed Quiz

Resources

  • How to…
  • Weedbusting Guide
  • Plant Me Instead Booklet
  • Useful Links

Contact Us

  • Home
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Weedbusters • Website by RS

  • Home
  • Weedbusters
    • Who are Weedbusters?
  • What Are Weeds?
    • Weed List
    • Controlling Weeds
      • Controlling Pest Shrubs & Trees
      • Controlling Pest Vines
      • Controlling Pest Herbs & Ground Covers
      • Controlling Pest Grasses
      • Controlling Pest Aquatic Weeds
    • Disposing of Weed Waste
    • Banned Plants
  • Get Involved
    • Become a Weedbuster
    • Weedbusters Near You
    • Weed Quiz
  • Resources
    • How to…
      • Raise Weeds Awareness
      • Organise a Weedbusters Event
    • Weedbusting Guide
    • Plant Me Instead Booklet
    • Using Weedbuster photographs
    • Useful Links
  • Contact Us
  • Find us on Facebook