Like a lot of our invasive species, Taiwan Cherry was introduced to New Zealand as an ornamental tree for the garden in the 1960s. Unfortunately, once here it “jumped the fence” and has started taking hold in several locations in Whangarei Heads. There are large infestations at the start of Whangarei Heads Road in Onerahi, at Tamaterau and smaller stands in Darch Point and McKenzie Bay.
If you find a Taiwan Cherry on your own property or nearby reserve or roadside, especially if you are not in one of the areas named above, we highly recommend dealing to it now, before it becomes a bigger problem! If left to its own devices it will form dense stands that prevent all other plants (especially our natives) from coming through. Please also get in touch and let us know its location, or if you need herbicides or advice to help get rid of it, at info@weedaction.org.nz
What does it look like?
Taiwan cherry is a deciduous tree growing up to 8 m high. Leaves are serrated, thin and cherry-like (rounded at base, broadly elliptic with sharp point at tip). Leaves can be up to 17 mm long x 9 cm wide but usually 6-13cm by 2-6 cm, and are on 1.2 – 2 cm petioles (leaf stalks). Main veins on leaf are obvious, and both surfaces are hairless.
Very distinctive when flowering in July-August; magenta or deep pink bell-shaped flowers hang in clusters, prior to spring leaf emergence. Shiny scarlet fruit up to 12 x 10 mm produced October to December.
How do I control it?
- Hand control: Pull out seedlings and small plants. Leave to rot on site.
- Cut stump application: Cut within 2 cm of ground level and immediately treat stump with Glyphosate at 200mls/L water or Weed Action’s Gly/ Met Mix or picloram gel. Cut stems can be left on site to rot down.
- Drill & fill: Drill using 12-13mm auger bit sloping holes into the sapwood at 10 cm intervals around the base of the trunk and any exposed roots. & immediately fill each hole with Glyphosate at 200mls/L.
- Frill and Fill: Make deep downward cuts into the sapwood around the base of the tree, taking care not to ring bark the plant, and immediately saturate the cuts with 200mls glyphosate/litre water),
- Spray seedlings with triclopyr at 6mls/L of water + penetrant, best in spring and summer.
What is Weed Action’s Gly/Met Mix?
This is our go-to herbicide mix that we use when controlling a range of woody weed species in one session. It uses the lowest ratio of herbicides possible while still being effective.
For a 500ml trigger sprayer – in a separate container mix 3gms of meturon granules with a small amount of water to dissolve. Once dissolved, add 80mls of glyphosate, then top up with remaining water. Always wear gloves, long sleeves and eyewear when handling or mixing herbicides.
CAUTION: when using any herbicide or pesticide PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.
Get in touch with us at info@weedaction.org.nz if you would like some assistance in applying the above control techniques or equipment and herbicides to do so. We can supply any of the products or equipment needed, for free, thanks to support from Northland Regional Council.
