A charity's report has warned that "fast-growing" cherry laurel needs to be "urgently" added to Ireland's list of invasive species.
Cherry laurel is sold in garden centres, nurseries and supermarkets despite the National Parks and Wildlife Service recognising it as an "established highly invasive species with a risk of high impact".
Cherry laurel has green, waxy leaves and does not lose its leaves during the winter.
The charity set up to to support and encourage Irish ecological restoration said cherry laurel is commonly used for hedging.
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The "evergreen plant" found "all over the country" is causing "serious, ongoing harm to Irish ecosystems", the Gaelic Woodland Project said.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, the charity's director said that cherry laurel suppresses the growth of native flora and "suppresses native regeneration".
"It really really harms and it chokes the woodlands," Oisín O'Neill said.
"It destroys the eco-system. It outcompetes our native plants."
"Once it's established and it is established unfortunately, it completely outcompetes the native trees and the native plants," he added.
Cherry laurel was not included in Ireland's List of National Concern that set out 77 types of invasive species as part of an EU initiative.
However, Mr O'Neill said it is "economically damaging" and "very time consuming" to remove.
"We are spending up to €200 million a year on invasive species removal."
Cherry laurel's deep roots make it hard to remove, he said.
"It just spreads so fast, often in habitats that are not easy to access," he said.
Mr O'Neill warned that Ireland's eco systems "are already in such a fragile state".
