Firethorn

Firethorn is an evergreen, spiny shrub that forms dense thickets that discourage native species from establishing.

Description

• Stems are horizontal, densely hairy, and grey/white when young, turning red/brown/dark grey with maturity.

• Leaves are 55x10mm. They are hairless above and hairy below on hairy stalks.

• Flowers are numerous, white, and 12mm in diameter. They appear in clusters between December – January.

• Fruit are yellow/orange berries, 7mm in diameter, between April – August.

• Seeds are dispersed by birds and mammals.

• Habitats include open forests, forest fragments, scrub, roadsides, wasteland, pasture, and open or semi-open habitats.

What you need to know

Firethorn restructures woody plant communities and acts as a nurse plant for privet.

Management approach

Firethorn 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, including unwanted organisms, cannot be sold or be in a place where plants are being sold. Pest plants cannot be propagated, bred, or multiplied, communicated, released, or cause to be released, or otherwise spread.

Control

Do not attempt to undertake control of firethorn yourself. Report any sightings to us.