Habitat: bank, clay, cliff, coast, dry, flat , forest edge, gorge, grassland, hill, margin, open, pasture, riparian, roadside, rock outcrop, sand, scrubland, shaded, sheltered, shrubland, silt, slope, stone, terrace, wasteland

Dispersal: Seed

 Recognition
  • an upright or arching shrub growing up to 4 m tall that often loses its leaves during winter.
  • its younger stems are densely covered in small brownish hairs.
  • its relatively small leaves (about 25 mm long and 15 mm wide) have shiny upper surfaces with a sparse covering of close-lying hairs.
  • its white to pale pink flowers have five petals (2-3 mm long) and are borne in small clusters of 1-4 flowers.
  • its small shiny, egg-shaped, 'berries' (5-10 mm long) turn orange-red or scarlet when mature.

[From: Environmental Weeds of Australia]

 References
Biosecurity New Zealand 2012: Regional Pest Management Strategies Database. http://www.biosecurityperformance.maf.govt.nz/
Biosecurity New Zealand 2008: National Plant Pest Accord. MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, Wellington.
Howell, C. 2008: Consolidated list of environmental weeds in New Zealand. DOC Research & Development Series 292: 42.
Ministry for Primary Industries 23 Feb 2017: Unwanted Organisms Register. Version 02.01.02. https://www1.maf.govt.nz/uor