Image: Adam Muyt
Digitalis, better known as foxglove, has been declared a pest by the Tasmanian Government.
Primary Industries Minister Jane Howlett says the declaration will help reduce the plant’s impact on Tasmania’s environmental values and agricultural productivity.
All parts of the plant can be toxic to humans and animals, with each plant capable of producing large numbers of seeds.
The worst affected parts of the state are in the South and North-West.
Much North-West municipalities have infestations, in particular Devonport, Kentish, Central Coast and Circular Head, with infestations creeping closer and closer to World Heritage areas, including Cradle Mountain.
The declaration will now prohibit the importation, sale and trade of the plant.
The next round of the State Government’s Weeds Action Plan will be launched soon, which allocates funding for landowners in the management of pests including gorse, blackberries, and now, foxglove.
