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Karamu (Coprosma robusta)

Karamu is an introduced woody weed recorded as uncommon in Tasmania. Its large leaves and bird-dispersed fruits can help it establish and spread beyond planted areas.

Key facts

Type: Weed, shrub.

Native to: New Zealand.

Established in: NSW, VIC, TAS.

Other names: Broad-leaved coprosma.

Best time to act: Survey when fruits are visible to help locate plants, and control them before fruits mature, with follow-up checks for regrowth and seedlings.

Identification

  • It is a large, woody evergreen shrub or small tree.
  • The leaves grow in opposite pairs and are large, quite thick and pointed at the tip.
  • Small flowers may be followed by fleshy orange to red fruits.
  • Compared with many native shrubs, its large, leathery leaves are a useful field clue.
  • Look-alike: Mirrorbush (Coprosma repens) has thicker, very glossy leaves with rounded, blunt tips.
  • Look-alike: Native coffeeberry (Coprosma hirtella) has smaller leaves with more pointed tips.

Where it grows

In Australia, karamu is recorded as an uncommon woody weed in Tasmania and can grow in moist, sheltered places and around disturbed vegetation.

Why it matters

  • Established plants can compete with native vegetation for light and growing space.
  • Dense growth can shade smaller plants and alter the structure of native understorey.
  • Fruits can attract birds, which may carry seeds into bushland and other suitable places.

How it spreads

  • Birds eat the fleshy fruits and disperse the seeds away from parent plants.
  • Seeds may also be moved in soil or dumped garden and plant material containing fruits.

Control options

  • Hand-pull young plants when the soil is moist, removing as much of the root system as possible.
  • For larger plants, use suitable physical removal or cut-stump treatment with a herbicide registered for the situation, following the product label and local requirements.
  • Collect and dispose of fruiting material so fruits and seeds are not spread; do not dump garden waste in bushland.
  • Check treated areas for regrowth and new seedlings, and report suspected infestations to the relevant state biosecurity agency where appropriate.

Hygiene and washdown

  • Clean soil, plant fragments and fruits from boots, tools, machinery and vehicles before leaving an infested site.
  • Avoid moving contaminated soil or garden waste to uninfested areas.
  • Inspect and clean vehicles, plant and footwear before leaving an infested area, paying attention to tyres, radiators, belly plates, tracks and floor mats.
  • Wash down at a designated bay where runoff is contained and can be monitored for seedlings.
  • Record each washdown so the client has evidence of clean entry and exit.

Classification by state

  • Australia (national): No national listing. Managed under state and territory law.
  • Queensland: Not prohibited or restricted. Not listed as prohibited or restricted matter in Queensland. Everyone must also take all reasonable and practical steps to minimise its risks (the general biosecurity obligation).
  • New South Wales: Not a priority weed. Not a state or regional priority weed in NSW. The general biosecurity duty applies: anyone dealing with it must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk it poses.
  • Victoria: Not declared. Not declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Other Victorian laws may still apply.
  • South Australia: Not declared. Not declared under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019. Other laws may still apply.
  • Western Australia: Not listed. Not found in the Western Australian Organism List. Check with DPIRD before moving or keeping it.
  • Tasmania: Declared weed. Property managers are required by law to control declared weeds, and their import and sale are prohibited.
  • Northern Territory: Not declared. Not on the NT A to Z weed list, and Weeds Australia does not list it as declared in the NT. Check the NT declared weeds list before moving or planting it.
  • Australian Capital Territory: Not declared. Not declared under the Biosecurity Act 2023 (ACT). A general biosecurity duty still applies.

Legal obligations

Every state and territory places a duty on landholders and people working on land to prevent the spread of invasive species, such as the general biosecurity obligation in Queensland and the general biosecurity duty in New South Wales. Declarations and control requirements differ between states and local government areas, so check the current official list before work starts.

  • New South Wales: Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), administered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
  • Victoria: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (Vic), administered by Agriculture Victoria
  • Tasmania: Biosecurity Act 2019 (Tas), administered by Biosecurity Tasmania

Sources