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Chinese Privet,
European Privet
Ligustrum
sinense, Ligustrum
vulgare
Identification
Chinese and European Privet are the most common two of several
species of privet that are not native to the U.S. and are invasive
after escaping ornamental plantings that started in the 1700s.
Privet is a stout, many branched, large shrub or small tree in the
olive family (Oleaceae). Leaves are oppositely arranged on the
twig, oval to elliptical in shape, and mostly evergreen. Privet can
reach heights of 15 to 20 feet in good conditions. Flowers are
clustered at ends of branches, white in color, and appear in late
spring. Fruits are small, grainy, blue/black drupes that contain one
to four hard seeds each; the seeds persist into the winter.
Privet is often referred to locally as “hedge.”
Origin
Europe, North Africa, and Asia
Habitat
Privet grows in a variety of conditions and is highly adaptive, but
prefers bottomlands and riparian areas with moist, rich soil. Often
spreads from bottomlands and disturbed areas into adjacent forests,
fields, and residential areas. Highly shade tolerant.
Ecological Threat
Privet is a very aggressive invading plant that often forms
impenetrable thickets in riparian and low-lying areas, pushing out
all native plant life. If allowed to become large enough to seed,
privet will convert the ground underneath larger specimens to a
carpet of seedlings that push out all other plant life. Privet is
very hard to control once established, especially if allowed to go
to seed even for one year. Herbicide treatments must usually be
repeated several times to establish complete control.
Recommended Native Alternatives
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Dog hobble (Leucothoe
fontanesiana)
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Spicebush (Lindera
benzoin)
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Tag alder (Alnus
serrulata)
These pages are designed to give the layperson a general overview of
non-native invasive plants commonly found in the upper Hiwassee
River watershed. For more comprehensive and technical information
about a particular species, visit one of the web sites from our
Links
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