An ornamental garden shrub commonly used for hedging has been discovered spreading into bushland at Sackville.
The Western Sydney Weed Authority says Indian hawthorn, or Rhaphiolepis indica, was recently found growing beneath native vegetation in the area.
Although valued by gardeners for its bright flowers and dense growth, Indian hawthorn can escape cultivation and establish itself in remnant bushland.
The plant is native to China and has already spread into bushland across Greater Sydney, the Hunter and North Coast regions.
The authority believes native birds are likely responsible for spreading the Sackville infestation.
Birds, including satin bowerbirds, are attracted to the plant’s berries and disperse the seeds through their droppings. New plants found growing beneath native canopy species indicated birds were the likely source of the spread.
Indian hawthorn usually grows between one and two metres tall and has sharply serrated leaves.
It produces small, star-shaped white or pink flowers from spring through to late autumn, followed by clusters of blue-black berries. The berries generally appear in spring and summer but can develop as early as May.
Young plants commonly have a single stem, while mature shrubs may form several trunks.
The Western Sydney Weed Authority is urging residents and landholders to report suspected plants as early as possible.
Early detection is important because established infestations can require herbicide treatment and ongoing monitoring to control new seedlings.
Small plants can be removed by hand, provided the entire root system is taken out.
Larger shrubs are best treated using the cut-and-paint method, where stems are cut and herbicide is applied immediately to the exposed surface.
Residents who believe they have found Indian hawthorn outside a cultivated garden can contact the Western Sydney Weed Authority on 4574 9600 or submit a notification through its online weed-reporting form.
The discovery is a reminder that plants sold or grown as ornamentals can become environmental weeds when their seeds are carried into surrounding bushland.
