Sweet Pittosporum, Pittosporum undulatum, is a serious weed outside its area of natural distribution. It establishes quickly and readily competes with other native species. Sweet Pittosporum develops a dense canopy that shades out all understory and drops lots of leaves that may contain an inhibitor preventing indigenous plants from surviving.
Sweet Pittosporum is a medium-sized, fast-growing tree with dark leaves, creamy-white flowers and orange fruit. It is an Australian endemic whose original natural range was wet forest areas down the eastern seaboard from southern Queensland to eastern Victoria.
Since European settlement, Sweet Pittosporum has thrived in areas altered by humans, in particular where native vegetation has become fragmented by development, agriculture, forestry, road-making, etc.
Although the fruit and flowers provide nutrient for native birds and animals at certain times, the ecology of bushland containing patches of Sweet Pittosporum is noteworthy for its lack of biodiversity.
Despite its invasive properties, Sweet Pittosporum is readily available in nurseries and on-line where it is often referred to as Native Daphne.
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