Mickey Mouse Plant - Ochna serrulata

Origin

Behaviour

Description




Dispersal


Removal

A South African native, introduced as an ornamental garden plant

Mickey Mouse Plant is an Environmental weed  that can colonise and out-compete the indigenous vegetation

It is a shrub which grows up to 3 metres high. Leaves are dark green, finely toothed and 2 – 8 cm long with undulating edges. New foliage is bronze-coloured.
Flowers are bright yellow, 3 cm in diameter, have 5 petals and occur in spring. They turn red in autumn and hold five glossy black berries, which look somewhat like a “Mickey Mouse” face.

Seeds are dispersed by birds such as Currawongs and germination of new plants from bird droppings is common. Dumped garden rubbish is another form of dispersal

Mechanical removal of Mickey Mouse Plant is very difficult due to the nature of the underground tap root system, which can re-shoot at considerable depth. Even hand pulling seedlings is difficult due to the tendency for the stems to snap off and re-sprout.
Chemical removal is the most effective means of removal for the Mickey Mouse Plant. A herbicide such as glyphosate can be applied in one of two ways:
i) Scrape and paint. The plant can then be left until stems are dry and dead.
ii) Cut and paint. Composting of Mickey Mouse plants is not recommended as seeds remaining in the compost may germinate.