FORESTRY UPDATE by Gary Allen Burns

Chinese privet (ligustrum sinense) and European privet (ligustrum vulare) were introduced into the Southern United States in the mid-1800s for ornamental use. These invasive species escaped into the native environment and are now found in 78 counties in east and central Texas. They may form dense thickets up to 30 feet in height.

While Chinese privet can grow in a variety of habitats, it grows best in mesic (moderately moist) soils and full sunlight, and it reduces the abundance and diversity of native herbaceous plants and tree seedlings along streams and rivers. It is aggressive along roadsides, fencerows, creeks and forest edges and can even invade forests. It is an evergreen shrub with opposite leaves and bluish black berries that grow in clusters and hang on into winter. Chinese privet, as well as all introduced species of Ligustrum, produces fruit toxic to humans and floral odors may cause respiratory irritation.

European privet is a deciduous shrub with a multiple-stem trunk and many leafy branches and purple to black spherical berries that persist into winter. It’s an aggressive invasive often forming dense thickets, especially in bottomland forests and fence rows.

Small nonnative privet on small areas may be controlled by hand removal. Foliar or basal spray herbicides, however, are recommended on large areas. Control recommendations can be found at: http://www.invasive.org/eastern/srs