Perennial shrub < 2.5 m tall. Leaves are elliptic and < 15 x 6 cm. Flowers are tubular, < 2 cm long, pale green/white, nocturnally fragrant and borne in November – March. Fruit is a glossy white berry < 1 cm in diameter.
To help protect our environment:
Scrub, riparian and forest margins, gardens, wasteland, sheltered gullies, light gaps, roadsides, coastal cliffs.
Seeds dispersed by birds. Vegetative spread from creeping roots. Human-mediated dispersal through dumping of garden waste, deliberate plantings.
Forms dense stands, preventing recruitment of native vegetation. Poisonous and may cause hay-fever symptoms.
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.
Do not attempt to undertake control of this species on Aotea/Great Barrier Island group. Please report to Auckland Council if seen on Aotea/Great Barrier Island group.
CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide please read the label thoroughly to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.
Green cestrum has greenish-yellow flowers and shiny purple berries.
C. elegans has magenta-crimson flowers & crimson berries and C. fasciculatum has scarlet-purple flowers & dark red berries.
