This plant introduced from south America is widely used as a hedging plant for gardens and in the countryside itself. It is quite hardy enough to be used in the Outer Hebrides, The Isle of Man or southern hedgerows. It escapes sometimes and the odd patch can be found nowhere near an obvious planted hedge. The genus is easy to identify but there are one or two other varieties escaped from cultivation.

Side of road near Derrynane, Ireland 22nd May 2005

Added on 30th October 2005, updated 16th January 2009, updated 31st March 2010