PSHB Perth zones determine which native trees are safe to plant in your suburb. Before you spend $150on a native tree in 2026, there is one check that takes sixty seconds and could save you from planting a tree that makes your PSHB problem worse.
What Is the PSHB Quarantine Area?
Polyphagous Shot-Hole Borer (PSHB) is a small invasive beetle — roughly the size of a sesame seed — that bores into trees, spreads a damaging Fusarium fungus, and in susceptible species causes dieback and death. It was detected in Perth in August 2021 and is now permanently established across the metropolitan area.
In November 2025, the national PSHB response formally transitioned from eradication to long-term management. Eradication is no longer technically feasible. PSHB is a permanent feature of Perth’s urban landscape.
In response, DPIRD has declared a formal Quarantine Area (QA) covering the entire Perth metropolitan region. The QA is divided into two zones, each with different rules and different implications for what you should plant.
The QA is legally active until 31 December 2026 under the current Quarantine Area Notice (issued 30 October 2025). Zone boundaries and restrictions are subject to change.
The Two Zones — What They Mean for You
Zone 1 — Management Zone
The Management Zone covers inner metropolitan Perth. It is the area of known, confirmed PSHB infestation — where the beetle is established and actively spreading.
Local government areas fully within the Management Zone include:
City of Bayswater, City of Belmont, City of Canning, City of Cockburn, City of Fremantle, City of Gosnells, City of Joondalup, City of Kwinana, City of Melville, City of Nedlands, City of Perth, City of South Perth, City of Stirling, City of Subiaco, City of Vincent, Shire of Peppermint Grove, Town of Bassendean, Town of Cambridge, Town of Claremont, Town of Cottesloe, Town of East Fremantle, Town of Mosman Park, Town of Victoria Park.
Partially within the Management Zone (some localities only): City of Armadale, City of Kalamunda, City of Rockingham, City of Swan, City of Wanneroo, Shire of Mundaring, Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale.
What this means for tree buying: In the Management Zone, planting a high-susceptibility PSHB reproductive host is actively feeding the infestation. The beetle can use that tree as a breeding ground and spread to neighbouring properties. This is not a theoretical risk — it is happening now across inner Perth.
Zone 2 — Containment Zone
The Containment Zone is the buffer area between the Management Zone and the outer boundary of the QA. It covers the remaining metropolitan local government areas not listed above.
What this means for tree buying: The Containment Zone is under active surveillance. The beetle has not confirmed established breeding populations here yet — the entire purpose of this zone is to stop it arriving. Planting high-susceptibility reproductive hosts in the Containment Zone increases the risk of establishment if an adult beetle reaches your property.
Outside the Quarantine Area
Properties outside the QA boundary are not subject to movement restrictions. Standard Treebate eligibility rules apply. However, given that zone boundaries can shift as the infestation is managed, it is worth checking your current status at dpird.wa.gov.au/pshb before purchasing.
How to Check Your Zone in 60 Seconds
Go to dpird.wa.gov.au/pshb
Scroll to the interactive map
Enter your suburb or postcode
The map shows exactly which zone your property falls within
Do this at the time of purchase — not just when you read this article. Zone boundaries are actively managed and can change.
The Species Decision Matrix — What to Buy by Zone
This is the plain-English version of the DPIRD decision logic applied to Treebate-eligible WA native species. All susceptibility ratings are sourced from the DPIRD PSHB WA Host List Version 6 (30 June 2025) — the current official document.
🔴 Do Not Plant in Any QA Zone — High Reproductive Hosts
These species are confirmed PSHB reproductive hosts at Very High or High susceptibility. Planting them in the Quarantine Area amplifies PSHB populations.
SpeciesCommon NameSusceptibilityMelaleuca rhaphiophyllaSwamp paperbarkVery HighTalipariti tiliaceumSea hibiscus / CottonwoodVery HighCorymbia ficifoliaRed flowering gumHighCorymbia calophyllaMarriHighBanksia littoralisSwamp banksiaHighMelaleuca preissianaStout paperbarkHighAlbizia lebbeckBroome RaintreeHigh
For Management Zone customers: These species represent a hard biosecurity risk. The PSHB beetle preferentially attacks these trees, establishes breeding galleries inside them, and uses them as a base to spread further.
For Containment Zone customers: The same logic applies. These trees are amplifiers. Introducing them to the Containment Zone works against the entire containment strategy.
What to plant instead: See the PSHB-Safe Species list below.
🟡 Manual Review — Moderate Reproductive Hosts
These WA native species are confirmed PSHB reproductive hosts at Moderate susceptibility. They are not automatic hard-stops — but they warrant checking your specific zone and making an informed decision before purchasing.
SpeciesCommon NameBanksia prionotesAcorn banksiaCasuarina obesaSwamp sheoakEucalyptus diversicolorKarriEucalyptus rudisFlooded gumMelaleuca teretifoliaBanbarXylomelum occidentaleWestern woody pearMelaleuca quinquenerviaBroadleaf paperbarkCallistemon viminalis (syn. Melaleuca viminalis)Weeping bottlebrush
For Management Zone customers: Discuss with your nursery and check the current DPIRD zone map before purchasing any of these species.
For Containment Zone customers: These species can be considered but check the current host list version before purchasing. The list is updated regularly.
✅ PSHB-Safe — Recommended for All Zones
These WA native species are confirmed non-reproductive hosts at Low or Negligible susceptibility. PSHB can attack them incidentally but cannot breed in them. They are the safest choices for any Perth property in 2026.
SpeciesCommon NamePSHB StatusTreebate EligibleBanksia menziesiiFirewood banksiaNegligible — Non-Reproductive✅ YesBanksia grandisBull banksiaNegligible — Non-Reproductive✅ YesEucalyptus gomphocephalaTuartNegligible — Non-Reproductive✅ YesHakea multilineataGrass-leaf hakeaNegligible — Non-Reproductive✅ YesHakea laurinaPincushion hakeaNot listed on Host List v6✅ YesAllocasuarina fraserianaWA SheoakNot listed on Host List v6✅ YesGrevillea olivaceaOlive grevilleaNegligible — Non-Reproductive✅ YesAdenanthos sericeusAlbany woollybushNegligible — Non-Reproductive✅ YesAcacia salignaOrange / golden wattleLow — Non-Reproductive✅ YesEucalyptus camaldulensisRiver red gumLow — Non-Reproductive✅ YesCallistachys lanceolataWonnichLow — Non-Reproductive✅ Yes
All species in this list are confirmed non-reproductive hosts — meaning even if an adult beetle lands on them, it cannot successfully establish a breeding population. Your tree will not become part of the problem.
Two additions worth noting:
Hakea laurina (Pincushion Hakea) and Allocasuarina fraseriana (WA Sheoak) do not appear on the DPIRD host list at all — no recorded infestations in WA. These are among the safest PSHB choices available for any Perth zone, including the Management Zone.
Important: Always apply the Treebate 3m+ height rule. Confirm the specific cultivar you are purchasing reaches 3 metres at maturity before buying. Dwarf, Nana, Little, and Compact cultivars typically do not meet this requirement — check the plant label carefully.
The Corymbia ficifolia Question
No guide to Perth native trees can avoid this question. Corymbia ficifolia — the red flowering gum — is the most popular ornamental native tree in Perth. It is spectacular. It is genuinely valuable for wildlife. And it is a High susceptibility PSHB reproductive host.
The honest answer by zone:
Management Zone: This is a difficult tree to recommend in 2026. It is a confirmed reproductive host at High susceptibility in an area of known active infestation. Planting it in the Management Zone today means planting a preferred PSHB breeding tree into the epicentre of the outbreak. There are excellent alternatives — the Firewood Banksia and Bull Banksia deliver comparable wildlife value, superior PSHB safety, and are fully Treebate eligible.
Containment Zone: A more defensible choice, but still warrants careful consideration. If you already have amplifier species nearby — box elder maple, coral tree, London plane tree — the combined risk profile increases.
Outside QA: Corymbia ficifolia remains an excellent choice. The PSHB risk outside the Quarantine Area is negligible at present.
A Note on Agonis flexuosa (WA Peppermint)
Agonis flexuosa is one of Perth’s most loved street and garden trees — weeping, aromatic, and highly adaptable. It appears in DWER’s own Treebate promotional imagery.
However, it does appear on the DPIRD PSHB WA Host List Version 6 as a Non-Reproductive Host at Negligible susceptibility. While DPIRD’s own rating is negligible — meaning it is not a breeding tree — the fact that it appears on the host list at all means Management Zone and Containment Zone homeowners should check the current DPIRD zone map at dpird.wa.gov.au/pshb and make an informed decision before purchasing.
“Negligible non-reproductive” means PSHB can attack the tree incidentally but typically cannot reproduce in it. It is not expected to die from infestation. Outside the Quarantine Area, it remains an excellent choice. treebate.com.au does not recommend Agonis flexuosa to customers in the Management Zone or Containment Zone.
Movement Restrictions — What Homeowners Need to Know
The PSHB Quarantine Area Notice carries legal movement restrictions that affect every Perth property owner, not just nurseries.
You must not move the following from inside the QA to outside the QA:
Any PSHB host plant with a stem greater than 2cm diameter
Wood or plant material cut from a host plant, greater than 2.5cm diameter
Green waste, mulch, or prunings from host species
You must not move the following from the Management Zone to the Containment Zone:
The same materials listed above
In plain English: If you prune a host tree in a Management Zone suburb, you cannot take that wood to your holiday property outside Perth. You cannot dump it in a Containment Zone suburb. It must go to an approved DPIRD Waste Management Facility.
The list of approved facilities is at: dpird.wa.gov.au/siteassets/documents/biosecurity/pshb-waste-sites.pdf
Failure to comply with the QAN can result in a fine under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Regulations 2013.
If You Find or Suspect PSHB
There is a legal duty to report. Under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007, any person who finds or suspects the presence of PSHB must report it to DPIRD.
Signs to look for:
Small circular bore holes (~2mm diameter) in tree stems or branches
White powdery frass (sawdust-like material) around bore holes
Gumming or dark staining on bark
Unexplained wilting or dieback in branches
How to report:
MyPestGuide Reporter app (fastest)
PaDIS phone: (08) 9368 3080
PaDIS email: padis@dpird.wa.gov.au
Do not remove a PSHB-affected tree without DPIRD authorisation. Unauthorised removal may affect your eligibility for the WA Tree Recovery Program — which requires a DPIRD-issued Tree ID at the time of removal to claim the $150 replacement rebate.
The WA Tree Recovery Program — If You Have Already Lost a Tree
If DPIRD has authorised the removal of a tree from your property due to PSHB, you may be eligible for a separate rebate under the WA Tree Recovery Program — up to $150 per tree removed, covering not just the replacement tree but soil and establishment costs as well.
This is a different program from Treebate and can be claimed independently. For the full comparison, see our guide: Treebate vs WA Tree Recovery Program — Can You Claim $300?
Quick Reference — Zone Decision by Species
SpeciesManagement ZoneContainment ZoneOutside QABanksia menziesii✅ Safe✅ Safe✅ Good choiceBanksia grandis✅ Safe✅ Safe✅ Good choiceEucalyptus gomphocephala (Tuart)✅ Safe✅ Safe✅ Good choiceHakea multilineata✅ Safe✅ Safe✅ Good choiceHakea laurina✅ Safe✅ Safe✅ Good choiceAllocasuarina fraseriana✅ Safe✅ Safe✅ Good choiceAcacia saligna✅ Safe✅ Safe✅ Good choiceCorymbia ficifolia🔴 Avoid⚠️ Consider carefully✅ Good choiceCorymbia calophylla (Marri)🔴 Avoid⚠️ Consider carefully✅ Good choiceBanksia prionotes⚠️ Manual review⚠️ Manual review✅ ProceedMelaleuca quinquenervia⚠️ Manual review⚠️ Manual review✅ ProceedAgonis flexuosa⚠️ Check host list first⚠️ Check host list first✅ Good choice
The Bottom Line
Perth’s urban canopy needs more trees, not fewer. The Treebate program is a genuine opportunity to put the right trees in the ground — and the right trees in 2026 are the ones that support local wildlife, survive our conditions, and do not amplify a biosecurity crisis that is already costing the city millions of dollars.
Check your zone. Check the species. Plant something that solves two problems at once.
For your complete Treebate claiming guide, see: WA Treebate 2026 — The Complete Guide to Claiming Your $150 Rebate
Use our Tree Selection Tool to get a PSHB-verified shortlist for your suburb in under 2 minutes.
PSHB zone and susceptibility information sourced from DPIRD PSHB WA Host List Version 6 (30 June 2025) and DPIRD Quarantine Area Notice (30 October 2025). Zone boundaries are subject to change — always verify your current zone at dpird.wa.gov.au/pshb before purchasing. Treebate program information sourced from DWER and ServiceWA (current as of March 2026). treebate.com.au is an independent guide and is not affiliated with DWER, DPIRD, or the WA Government.