Ligustrum spp
Non-native privets (Ligustrum sp.) are multi-stemmed shrubs reaching up to 16 feet tall at maturity. Four species occur in Missouri.
Leaves are small, opposite, with smooth margins, and at nearly a right angle to the stem. The leaf surface is glossy on top and pale green underneath. Chinese privet has a hairy mid-vein on the lower surface while the European privet is hairless on the underside of the mid-vein. White flowers appear May to June and are abundant and fragrant. Fruits appear in late summer in clusters near the ends of branches. As the fruit ripens it turns from pale green to dark purple or nearly black.
Wildlife (primarily birds) consume the fruits, thereby spreading the seed and contributing to future invasions. Privet also spreads clonally through the roots. Dense stands often form near creeks, fence rows, and in the understory of woodlands. Leaves remain green for several weeks after the first fall frosts.
The recommended treatment is a foliar application of glyphosate after the first hard frost. A 3% to 4% rate of glyphosate with ammonium sulfate and surfactant is adequate for control, ensuring that herbicide covers most of the leaves on the shrub. It is not necessary to spray the leaves to the point of run-off.
Another method is to cut stems/trunks with loppers or a saw and then daub the cut stems with a 10% to 20% solution of glyphosate. No surfactant is needed when applying herbicide to cut stems/stumps.
Identification and fact sheets
- Learn about Amur privet at Invasive.org
- Ligustrum spp. identification and management overview from the Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, University of Florida
- Control options for Chinese privet — guide from University of Alabama Extension
Representative photos of some invasive privets:
Invasive privet impact, abundance, and trend in Missouri
