This is a highly invasive plant in the horticultural trade. This plant has been observed growing in native koa forests, preventing new koa seedlings from establishing. Birds, attracted to the white pea-sized fruit, consume the fruit containing viable seed and fly away where they excrete the seed, which survives passage through the bird’s gut. It is tough to control in a landscape once established and considered one of Hawai’i’s worst invasive plants.
THIS PLANT SHOULD NOT BE GROWN IN HAWAI’I GARDENS
- Can be grown in cooler climates as a house or conservatory plant
- Strong scent
- 10-12 feet in height and has a spread of 6 feet in ideal growing conditions
- Flowers up to four times per year
- Produces white berries full of seeds