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. Pull (all year round): pull out seedlings and small plants. Mulch.
2. Drill and inject (all year round): drill 10-12mm holes around trunk at 200mm intervals and inject with undiluted glyphosate or 2ml of metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (20g/L) or 10ml of a product containing 100g picloram+300g triclopyr/L (undiluted)
3. Ringbark and inject (all year round): cut a complete ring around the trunk on a downward angle spray with 250ml glyphosate per 750ml water or metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (20g/L) or a product containing 100g picloram+300g triclopyr/L (100ml/L).
4. Cut and stump treat (all year round): paint freshly cut stump with undiluted glyphosate or metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (5g/L) or a product containing 100g picloram+300g triclopyr/L (100ml/L). Mulch cut branches and leaves.
5. Overall spray (summer): 100ml glyphosate (360g/l)+penetrant per 10L water or metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (5g/10L) or a product containing 100g picloram+300g triclopyr/L (6ml/L).
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.
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