Botanical Name: Picrasma excelsa

Quassia chips come from the white bark of Picrasma excelsa a tree that is indigenous to Jamaica and many other islands of the West Indies. The tall elegant trees are not troubled by insects or pests as the entire tree in particular the timber, contains quassin an astringent resin which is a bitter and very effective insecticide.

Quassia is used for debilitated digestion and loss of appetite, as in convalescence. It is also used for Anorexia nervosa, malaria, nematode worms and threadworms. Externally it can be used for Lice infestations.

Quassia Chips contain insecticidal properties against flies, red spider mite, aphid and woolly aphid. It is also great to repel possums.

Using Quassia Chips as a possum deterrent

To repel possums in the roof the chips can be spread around the area where they are entering the roof as well as throughout the roof cavity. Homemade Quassia spray is easily made and can also be sprayed around the roof cavity and entry points.

To repel possums in the garden

For ornamental plants you can spray on the leaves, stems and trunk of the plants, you can also do this on fruit trees avoiding any soft skinned fruit that is ready to be picked.

If you are protecting your edible herbs and vegetables from being the eaten it is best to spray to saturate the ground around the plants, if the quassia is sprayed on the foliage of your herbs and vegetables they will not only taste bitter to the possums but also to you! However it does work best when sprayed on the leaves that they like to eat, so leave a week before eating your herbs and vegetables

Apply quassia spray for 5 days in a row. This should be long enough for the possum to realise that this is not the tasty treat that he thought it was. Re apply the quassia spray after rain or watering. If the possum comes back for more repeat the spray for another 5 days.

Quassia Spray

Use 200g of quassia chips to a 9-10 litre bucket of water let them soak for 24 hours before straining off the bitter liquid. This can then be sprayed on the affected area.

Add the strained liquid to a spray bottle.  Spray the plants or area the possums are visiting. Adding 3-5ml of liquid detergent per litre to the spray bottle will help hold the spray onto area treated.

Don't spray it on food crops less than a week before you consume it

Parts Used

Stem wood

Actions

Bitter tonic, sialagogue, anthelmintic

Contraindications

Excess causes gastric irritation and vomiting.

All information provided on this website is for informational purposes only. Please seek professional advice before commencing any treatment.