Indian hawthorn
Rhaphiolepis indica
family
Rosaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)
Council Pest Vegetation (BCC Natural Asset Local Law)
Common names
Indian hawthorn, Cherry laurel.
A shrub or small tree growing 1-4 m tall. Its leathery leaves (3-8 cm long) have sharply toothed margins, particularly in the upper half. Its white or pinkish flowers (10-15 mm across) are arranged in dense clusters at the tips of the branches. These flowers have five petals (5-9 mm long and 4-5 mm wide) and numerous stamens. Its rounded fruit (5-10 mm across) turn from green to bluish-black or purplish-black in colour as they mature.
Impact
Impact
Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica) is regarded as an environmental weed in New South Wales and Queensland and as a potential environmental weed or "sleeper weed" in other parts of Australia. Currently, it is mainly a problem in remnant bushland in the Brisbane and Sydney regions.This species is actively managed by community groups in New South Wales and appears on several local and regional environmental weed lists in the eastern parts of this state (e.g. in the North Coast region, in the wider Sydney and Blue Mountains region, in the Sydney North region, in Coffs Harbour City and in Byron, Warringah, Mosman, Manly and Ku-ring-gai Municipal Councils).In Queensland Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica) is mainly of concern in the south-eastern parts of the state, and it is listed among the top 200 most invasive plant species in this region. It also appears on some local environmental weeds lists (e.g. in Redland Shire) and is growing in conservation areas (e.g. Toohey Forest Park) in south-eastern Queensland.While not yet formally regarded as being naturalised in Victoria and south-eastern New South Wales, Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica) has occasionally been reported in these regions (e.g. it appears on the list of environmental weeds for Knox City in Victoria, appears on a list of naturalised plants for the Gippsland Plain bioregion, and is included in a booklet of invasive plants for the New South Wales South Coast region).
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica) is regarded as an environmental weed in New South Wales and Queensland and as a potential environmental weed or "sleeper weed" in other parts of Australia. Currently, it is mainly a problem in remnant bushland in the Brisbane and Sydney regions.This species is actively managed by community groups in New South Wales and appears on several local and regional environmental weed lists in the eastern parts of this state (e.g. in the North Coast region, in the wider Sydney and Blue Mountains region, in the Sydney North region, in Coffs Harbour City and in Byron, Warringah, Mosman, Manly and Ku-ring-gai Municipal Councils).In Queensland Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica) is mainly of concern in the south-eastern parts of the state, and it is listed among the top 200 most invasive plant species in this region. It also appears on some local environmental weeds lists (e.g. in Redland Shire) and is growing in conservation areas (e.g. Toohey Forest Park) in south-eastern Queensland.While not yet formally regarded as being naturalised in Victoria and south-eastern New South Wales, Indian hawthorn (Rhaphiolepis indica) has occasionally been reported in these regions (e.g. it appears on the list of environmental weeds for Knox City in Victoria, appears on a list of naturalised plants for the Gippsland Plain bioregion, and is included in a booklet of invasive plants for the New South Wales South Coast region).
