Turbina Vine: Biosecurity Risks in the Wet Tropics

BIOSECURITY RISKS OF THE WET TROPICS

TURBINA VINE

20 JANUARY 2026

WHAT IS IT?

Turbina corymbosa, also known simply as Turbina, is a fast-growing, scrambling vine native to tropical America. It was introduced to Australia as an ornamental plant but has since become highly invasive, particularly in Far North Queensland.

It occurs on the Atherton Tablelands, along the Barron River below Tinaroo Dam and on the lower Mowbray River.

WHY IS IT A PROBLEM?

Turbina vine aggressively invades rainforest margins and waterways, smothering native vegetation and disrupting ecosystems. It competes with native vines and shrubs, reducing biodiversity and altering habitat structure. Its rapid spread makes it difficult to control.

It is a significant threat to Mabi Rainforest.

CHARACTERISTICS

Turbina can form vine towers over native vegetation that are more than 20 metres high and have thick rope-like stems.

Stems of new growth are smooth, green, cylindrical and hairless while older stems are thicker, pale grey and roughly cylindrical. Leaves are oval and heart-shaped at the base with a pointed tip.

Turbina vine has sprays of fragrant, white, bell-shaped flowers. The fruit is a papery beaked capsule full of brown, hairy seeds.

HOW TO SPOT IT ON YOUR PROPERTY

Look for climbing vines with heart-shaped leaves and clusters of white flowers. The presence of beaked fruit and rapid growth over trees or fences may indicate an infestation. Turbina has a very distinctive pale grey rope-like trunk when mature. The leaves often have distinctive holes from predation, which are not present on most native vines.

Turbina: Invasive Weeds in the Wet Tropics
Turbina is a fast-growing, scrambling vine native to tropical America. It was introduced to Australia as an ornamental plant but has since become highly invasive, particularly in Far North Queensland. It occurs in Yungaburra in Atherton Tablelands, along the Barron River below Tinaroo Dam and the lower Mowbray River.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT

Prevention: Monitor waterways and rainforest edges for new growth and report new infestations to local authorities.
Physical removal: Hand-pull seedlings and small plants, ensuring all roots and fragments are removed.
Herbicide control: Herbicides can be effective. No herbicide is currently registered for control of turbina vine in Queensland. However, an off-label use permit (Permit No. PER11463 https://permits.apvma.gov.au/per11463.pdf) allows use of various herbicides for control of environmental
weeds in nonagricultural areas, bushland, forests, wetlands, and coastal and adjacent areas. A cutstump method is
recommended for mature vines. Cut stems above the ground and treat with herbicide. Follow-up control may be required.

RESOURCES:

Check out your Local Government’s Biosecurity Plan available through your Council’s website.

Refer to the Queensland Government Pest Fact for turbina for detailed control information and herbicide rates.

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