AusBonsai

Cane toad in plant form...?!

Not quite Elmar. the can toad is an exotic, not a native Aussie. Pittosporum is actually a native plant from the east coast rainforests. It is just that when we take it out of its natural area it takes off and can swamp the local plants. I have no idea why it was restricted to the coast before when it is such a good colonizer of other habitats. There are other examples of native plants that are weeds when introduced to other parts of Aust - Cootamundra wattle is another.
These are just one more reason why WA and Tas have such strict quarantine. Not only exotic pests and diseases to deal with also native weeds.

Haha sorry, just having a laugh!

As much as I appreciate the quarantine regulations, when it goes against me, I hate them!
I'm very emotional, at times... Hehe!


Cheers
EZ
Via Tapatalk

Yes Sweet Pittosporum has a place in SOME Australian ecosystems and fruit is spread by many birds etc. It is a prolific plant in disturbed areas where the light floods the forest floor creating ideal conditions for them. Broadscale logging and urban development are the culprits not the plant. I have them growing naturally in rainforest but I would never plant one as birds such as bower birds spread them into ecosystems where they don't belong. Nice looking plant, easy to grow but a serious problem.

Broadscale logging and urban development are the culprits not the plant.

Maybe in your area this is true but west of the divide, where this species is not natural, it can -and does- invade undisturbed bushland creating dense stands and choking out many of our local species. Maybe not the fault of the species, just should not be planted here.

I thought I was agreeing with you not being argumentive?

Yes, Pittosporum Undulatum. Pretty much unkillable. Beautiful perfume flowers pollinated by moths. Not a weed, a native plant, though "opportunistic".



Will flower and fruit as a Bonsai, but needs to be cut back.

markandrew wrote: Not a weed, a native plant

Pretty sure these two things are not mutually exclusive... in the wrong place and flourishing at the expense of local flora/habitat, any plant can be considered a weed whether it is native (in a national sense) or not. In any case that doesn't mean you can't bonsai it!