Botanical name : |
Olea europeaea subspecies cuspidata |
Family : |
Oleaceae (olive) family |
Common name : |
African olive |
Also known as : |
Olea europaea subspecies africana |
Where is it originally
from? : |
Europe |
What does it look like? : |
Dense bushy shrub or small tree to 7 m tall with angular, scaly young stems and bark that becomes rough as it matures. Lance-shaped leaves (5-11 x 1-2 cm) are in opposite pairs on the stem, and are dark green and occasionally scaly above, and scaly and pale green or silvery underneath. Whitish, strongly smelling flowers (3-4 mm long) appear from July to March, followed by an ovalish glossy fruit (5-8 mm diameter) that ripens from green to red to black. |
Are there any similar
species? : |
The commonly cultivated European olive (Olea europaea subspecies europaea) which has white leaf undersides and black fruit (1-2 cm long) can also become weedy. |
Why is it weedy? : |
Long-lived, forms dense canopy, and produces many long-lived, well dispersed seeds. Tolerates drought, hot to moderate temperatures, wind, salt, damage, and moderate shade. |
How does it spread? : |
Birds, possibly possums and livestock eat the fruit and spread the seeds. Common sources are gardens, hedges and waste places. |
What damage does it do? : |
Forms dense (occasionally pure), long-lived stands in open and understorey, and fills canopy in light gaps. Prevents establishment of native plant seedlings. |
Which habitats is
it likely to invade? : |
Dry disturbed forest and shrubland, bare land, especially in coastal areas, and inshore islands. |
What can I do to get
rid of it? : |
Remove systematically to minimise reintroduction by birds.
1. Pull or dig small plants (all year round). Leave on site to rot down.
2. Cut and squirt (all year round): Make 1 cut every 100 mm around the trunk and apply metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (1g) to each cut.
3. Cut down and paint stump (all year round): metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (5g /L).
4. Spray (all year round): metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (5g/10L). |
What can I do to
stop it coming back? : |
Cut stumps resprout. Reseeds in bared areas. Garden and hedge sources should be removed. Avoid soil disturbance, replant bared sites where possible. |
