Invasive garden escape IDENTIFICATION please

Ludd · #1 (**permalink**) 15-02-2009, 08:24 PM

Hello nature lovers,

I am helping to manage a beautiful woodland in West Scotland. This plant is spreading like wildfire into the wild woods.

I have seen it as a hedge in gardens closeby.

We would like to know what it's name is so that we can learn more about it. And if it is bad for bio-diversity, how to control it.

It is an evergreen, it has red berries that are between the size of a pea to the size of a hazelnut. This picture was taken yesterday. 14/2/09

Do you know it's name?

Many thanks!

Ludwig

KeenTeen17 · #2 (**permalink**) 15-02-2009, 08:26 PM

I think its prickly heath. It has become overgrown over my local hills and it was introduced some years ago.

Tiggrx · #3 (**permalink**) 15-02-2009, 08:26 PM

It is Prickly Heath (Gaultheria mucronata)

Hedge Witch · #4 (**permalink**) 15-02-2009, 08:29 PM

I think it's Gaultheria mucronata and if I'm right, you should be able to identify some similar bushes nearby without berries - these are male, and without these, there can be no berries, as far as I'm aware.

Ludd · #5 (**permalink**) 15-02-2009, 08:38 PM

Waw you guy's are fast. It looks indeed like you are right!

Many many thanks!

Ludwig

p.s. Seems I have broken the rules by posting a large picture instead of a thumbnail. sorry, working on finding out how to correct.