Weed Potential
As a weedOchna is highly invasive in warm temperate regions with moderate rainfall infesting habitats that include rainforest, rainforests bushland margins or along water courses and particularly in disturbed soils.

It forms thickets that reduce light inhibiting the development of native tree or shrub seedlings and preventing ground flora from growing.

It grows in well drained fertile moist or drier soils and tolerates dry periods once established and tolerates a semi shaded to open sunny position. The fruit is produced in 3 to 4 years during late spring to summer and the seeds germinate during spring in a shaded moist position.

Seedlings form a long kinked taproot that is difficult to pull out and if snapped off re-shoot vigorously. The seeds are dispersed by birds or water and in soil or garden waste.

Controlmethods include physically digging out seedlings and small plants when the soil is moist checking that all the roots are removed. Fruiting branches should be bagged and removed off site then destroyed.

Large plants can be cut or drilled and painted / injected with a non-selective herbicide towards the base. Young plants or seedlings may be sprayed with a non-selective herbicide during spring while the plant is actively growing. Follow up spraying will be required as the plant leaf will not absorb herbicide easily and results are patchy.