The African Boxthorn is established as a weed in all Australian States. The bushes have branchlets ending in a stout spine with fleshy leaves in clusters. The flowers are small, tubular and blue-white.
The fruit is also small, succulent, globular and orange-red in colour.
It easily invades mature communities of remnant vegetation, and it provides excellent cover for burrowing rabbits.
The fruit has been found to be a breeding habitat for many insects including fruit fly, dried fruit beetles, tomato fly and the common house fly. The sharp spines of boxthorns can easily penetrate vehicle tyres and footwear.
Boxthorns are most prevalent in coastal areas. The fruit is eaten by birds and foxes and the seeds are viable when excreted hence the reason boxthorns are often found under trees, poles and fences etc. Re-growth can occur from pieces of broken root or stump.