They can form wide-area ground cover over a sandy soil, which suppresses indigenous sand dune vegetation when introduced to a non-native area.

The harm they do is variable, and sometimes hotly debated, when balanced against their value as firebreaks[4] and as food for wildlife.

[5] Seeds are spread by mammals such as deer, rabbits, and rodents eating mature fruit.

Applied to the skin, it is a popular emergency treatment for jellyfish and similar stings.

It can also be used as a gargle for sore throat, laryngitis, and mild bacterial infections of the mouth,[9] and can be used externally, much like aloe vera, to treat wounds, mosquito bites, sunburn, and skin conditions.