Evergreen buckthorn

Rhamnus is an evergreen, multi-stemmed shrub or tree that can grow up to five metres tall.

Description

• Shoots are angular and usually purple when young.

• Leaves are glossy, leathery, and entire or toothed.

• Flowers are fragrant and green with no petals (May-November).

• Fruits are glossy berries, dark red when young and ripening to black.

• Seeds are dispersed by birds, soil movement, and dumped vegetation.

• Habitats include scrublands, forest margins, coastal cliffs, rocky outcrops, and plantations.

What you need to know

Rhamnus forms dense stands, preventing the recruitment of native vegetation.

Management approach

Rhamnus is declared an unwanted organism by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) because it is capable of causing harm to the natural environment, physical resources or human health in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

These species pose a high risk to our environment, economy, recreation, and cultural values.

Rules

Any species declared a pest cannot be sold or be in a place where plants are being sold. Pest plants cannot be propagated, bred, multiplied, communicated, released, caused to be released, or otherwise spread.

To help protect our environment:

Consider removing this invasive species from your property and consult your local council for appropriate disposal. Consider lower-risk alternatives for your garden, such as native plants.

Control

Site management

Follow up treated areas 3 times per year. Encourage natural regeneration of native plants or replant treated areas where possible after 2-3 treatments to establish dense ground cover and minimise reinvasion.

Physical control

Dig or pull-out small plants and seedlings

Plant parts requiring disposal: seeds.

Contact your local council for appropriate disposal locations

Chemical control

Cut plant close to the ground and immediately treat the stump with herbicide gel containing metsulfuron-methyl.

Drill downward-sloping holes around the circumference of the trunk about 8-10cm apart. Fill with metsulfuron-methyl (20g per 1 L of water).

Foliar spray with 6ml triclopyr plus 1ml non-ionic surfactant per 1L of water.

Caution: When using any herbicide or pesticide please read the label thoroughly to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.

Large trees must not be ringbarked or drilled that are closer than 1.5 times the height of the tree from paths, walkways, and property.

Trees over 4 metres in height should be removed by a qualified arborist.