Botanical name
Ochna serrulata
Common name
Mickey Mouse Plant
Mickey Mouse Plant description
Native to South Africa, the Mickey Mouse Plant has bright green, wavy leaves which have a bronze tinge during the growing season.
The attractive yellow flowers emerge from rounded balls in Winter. Once the petals have fallen, the five sepals remain and change colour from green to scarlet red. The berries that are produced are initially glossy green deepening to glossy black in Summer.
Be warned! This plant may look pretty but looks can definitely be deceiving! The Mickey Mouse Plant is considered a noxious weed / invasive plant by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Queensland Government. It invades bushland, roadsides and riverbanks, overrunning native plants and destroying native animal habitats.
Seed is dispersed by birds and humans dumping garden waste.
Control methods
To prevent Ochna serrulata spreading further, remove the flowers before seeding occurs. Remove/kill the entire plant as soon as possible.
Do not try to pull out plants as they will break off where the root kinks and the plant will regrow. Carefully dig out small plants and seedlings (note they have a very long taproot). Remove as much of the roots as you can. Follow up regularly to ensure no new seedlings have appeared.
Refer to the NSW Department of Primary Industries website for chemical control methods.
