Image: Underside of Leaf; Indian Hawthorn.
The perfect sized shrub, Indian Hawthorn is a common garden plant. It gives good coverage and has a pretty flower. St Thomas More school on Ben Lexcen drive, has them planted at the entrance.
Due to them not looking partially “weedy” and being sold in stores like Bunnings and Australian plants online, and with Don Burke promoting them, their threat is not obvious.
Here on in the Noosa shire these plants have moved into bushland areas, presumably spread by birds. They are very hardy and can out compete our natives.
If you have Indian Hawthorn in your garden please consider removing them and planting a local native species. The best identification to use is the vein pattern on the bottom of the leaf. The sub veins almost cover the whole of the leaf surface and the leaf edged is toothed, especially near the top.
This link by Brisbane City Council provides more detail or look up page 209 of Weeds of the Sunshine coast 2nd edition.
https://weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.au/weeds/indian-hawthorn
By Michelle Newall