Taiwan cherry
Botanical Name
Prunus campanulata
Family
Rosaceae (rose)
Also known as
Bell-flowered cherry, Formosan cherry
Where is it originally from?
East Asia
What does it look like?
Small deciduous tree (< 8 m tall) with a short trunk and narrowly spreading branches (branches nearly vertical when young). Thin leaves are rounded at base, broadly elliptic with sharp point at tip (<17 mm long x 9 cm wide), and small teeth along entire leaf margin. Main veins on leaf are obvious and both surfaces are hairless. Leaf stalk 12-20 mm long. Bell-shaped flowers are magenta or pink to deep red, hang in clusters of 1-5 (Jul-Sept) and are followed by glossy scarlet cherries (<12 x 10 mm).
Are there any similar species?
P. campanulata has bell shaped flowers, unlike other naturalised cherries such as Japanese hill cherry (P. serrulata), cherry laurel (P. laurocerasus), Portugal laurel (P. lusitanica) and sweet cherry (P. avium).
Why is it weedy?
Seeds are long-lived and widely dispersed. It is tolerant of warm and cold climates, low to medium rainfall. Forms dense stands that are long-lived.
How does it spread?
Seed is dispersed by birds.
What damage does it do?
Forms dense stands in open or disturbed habitats preventing regeneration.
Which habitats is it likely to invade?
Urban areas, disturbed forest and shrubland.
What can I do to get rid of it?
1. Physical removal - Pull (all year round): pull out seedlings and small plants. Mulch.
2. Cut and paste - Cut the stem/trunk as close to the ground as possible and cover the entire stump with herbicide as soon as possible after cutting. Apply either glyphosate gel (120g/L strength) or metsulfuron gel (10g/l strength) to the entire cut stem. When a gel is inadequate apply a product containing triclopyr and picloram 50ml/L water mix) can be used. Apply the mixture over the entire exposed surface of the cut stump, i.e. top and sides
3. Basal spray - Basal spray stems up to 20cm diametre with X-Tree Basal. Apply from the ground to a height of 6 times the diameter of the plant, ensure the base is thoroughly covered at ground level.
4. Drill or frill - Drill downward sloping holes around the circumference of the trunk about 8-10 cm apart, or Frill (make deep cuts into the sapwood at regular intervals around the base of the tree, taking care not to ring-bark the plant). Fill the holes or saturate the cuts with metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg at a rate of 20-50g/L.
5. Foliar spray (Summer) - Apply herbicide using a hand held sprayer/knapsack to plants <1m tall, or gun and hose for larger infestations. Use the adjuvant recommended on the label. Apply glyphosate (360 g/L active ingredient) herbicide at 20ml/L plus organosilicone penetrant (2ml/L) to cover entire plant. Note: Glyphosate overspray will kill other (desirable) plants.OR apply metsulfuron herbicide (600g/kg active ingredient at 0.5g/L knapsack or 20g/100L gun and hose) + organosilicone penetrant (3ml/L). Note: Metsulfuron overspray will kill other (desirable) broadleaf plants and has residual activity in the soil which aids in killing below ground parts.
CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide, PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and directions for the purchase, use and storage of the product, are followed and adhered to.
What can I do to stop it coming back?
Monitor the site for recolonisation or growth for seed bank for two years. Plant a dense cover of native trees or shrubs to produce shade. If possible, track down and remove the seed source.
Images
