Stop the sale, stop the spread
If you see these water weeds for sale online or anywhere in Victoria, report it and we will remove it for free.
To report:
- send an email about what you've seen, including the address and photos of the plant if possible, to weed.spotters@agriculture.vic.gov.au. Include a screenshot if it has been advertised online
- make a report by clicking on the ‘Report a State prohibited weed’ button below
- call the Customer Service Centre on 136 186.
See it, report it
If you see these plants for sale online or anywhere in Victoria call 136 186 or use the online reporting form to report a State prohibited weed.
Report a State prohibited weedThe most common noxious weeds traded online
Some of the most common noxious weeds that have been found for sale online are the Victorian State prohibited weeds, the highest category of noxious weeds. State prohibited weeds pose a major threat to Victoria’s agriculture sector, natural environment and broader social activities, and are actively managed with the aim of eradicating them from the state.
In Victoria, it's illegal to buy, sell, import, transport, or display for sale any plants declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994.
World’s worst water weeds
Two of the world’s worst water weeds, water hyacinth and salvinia, are sometimes sold online as ornamental plants.
These water weeds quickly grow to cover and block waterways, harming native plants, wildlife, and reducing water quality for farming, the environment and recreation activities such as boating and water skiing.
The online trade of these weeds helps them spread fast. Even these plants growing in a backyard pond can cause problems when they are carried by birds or floodwaters.
Once established, these infestations can be costly and very hard to control. To learn more about these harmful water weeds, visit:
Along with water hyacinth and salvinia there are other aquatic State prohibited weeds to look out for, including:
How you can help
If you see a declared noxious weed for sale online, please don't contact the seller yourself. Agriculture Victoria will follow up on your report and arrange for the effective removal of the weeds.