Family: Solanaceae
High Risk Traits:
- Thrives in high elevation tropical climates
- Naturalized in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and elsewhere (but no evidence in Hawaiian Islands to date)
- An environmental weed in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa
- Other Cestrum species are invasive
- Toxic to animals and people
- Shade tolerant
- Tolerates many soil types
- Climbing habit
- Forms dense thickets that prevent regeneration of native species
- Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by suckers and stem fragments
- Able to reach maturity in <5 years
- Seeds dispersed by birds, other frugivorous animals, water and intentionally planted by people
- Dispersed by stem fragments in garden waste and by water
- Forms a persistent seed bank (up to 8 years)
- Resprouts after cutting (without herbicide treatment)
Low Risk Traits:
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Valued as an ornamental
- Bird-pollinated; could limit seed production in areas lacking effective bird pollinators
- Herbicides may provide effective control