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. Cut and stump treat (all year round): paint freshly cut stump with metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (5g/L) or a product containing 100g picloram+300g triclopyr/L (100ml/L). Mulch cut branches and leaves.
3. Cut and inject (all year round): cut a notch in the trunk on a downward angle and inject with 2ml metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (20g/L) or 10ml of a product containing 100g picloram+300g triclopyr/L (undiluted).
4. Drill and inject (all year round): drill holes around trunk at 5 cm intervals and inject with 2ml of metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (20g/L) or 10ml of a product containing 100g picloram+300g triclopyr/L (undiluted).
5. Ringbark and inject (all year round): cut a complete ring around the trunk on a downward angle and inject with metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (20g/L) or a product containing 100g picloram+300g triclopyr/L (100ml/L).
6. Overall spray (summer): metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (5g/10L) or a product containing 100g picloram+300g triclopyr/L (6ml/L).
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.
