Colubrina asiatica

Common Name: latherleaf

Family: Rhamnaceae

Common Synonyms: Ceanothus asiaticus, Rhamnus asiatica

USDA Hardiness Zone: 9B - 11

Growth Habit: Shrub

Origin: Old World

FISC Category: 1

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: Yes

Introduction Date: naturalized by 1933

IFAS Assessment:

• North: PROHIBITED
• Central: PROHIBITED
• South: PROHIBITED

Description

Sprawling shrub often forming a tangled mat of glabrous stems. Slender branches to 5 m. Oval, stalked, leaves are alternate, shiny dark green, 4-9 cm long with toothed margins. Flowers small, greenish white, in small clusters at the leaf axils, petals 5. Fruit a green to brown round capsule with 3 grayish-brown seeds inside.

Habitat

Coastal areas including hammocks, mangrove swamps, and buttonwood forests

Comments

Established in south, EDRR candidate in central zone if not well established. Capsules dispersed by tides, currents, and birds.

Control Methods

• Manual: Mechanical: seedlings can be hand-pulled .
• Chemical: Basal bark (10-20% triclopyr ester or undiluted Pathfinder II), cut stump (50% triclopyr amine), foliar (3% triclopyr amine or triclopyr ester). Follow up for 3-4 weeks. Repeat applications certainly necessary. [IFAS]
• Biological: NA

Control Notes

**Follow herbicide labels: Only herbicides registered for application in water by EPA and FDACS may be applied to weeds growing in or near water.

References

Dave's Garden. 2013. PlantFiles: Colubrina asiatica. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/94706/. Accessed on December 3, 2013.

Langeland, K.A., J.A. Ferrell, B. Sellers, G.E. MacDonald, and R.K. Stocker. 2011. Integrated management of non-native plants in natural areas of Florida. EDIS publication SP 242. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Langeland, K.A., H.M. Cherry, C.M. McCormick, K.C. Burks. 2008. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas-Second Edition. IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.