ORIGIN

China

COMMON NAME

Privet - Tree privet

BOTANICAL NAME

Ligustrum lucidum

IDENTIFICATION

Small to large sized evergreen tree, to 10 m high, sometimes a dense shrub. Shoots hairless. Leaves oval, glossy 50-130mm x 30-60mm. Long panicles of small cream-coloured fragrant flowers, Nov-Mar. Fruit to 6 x 5 mm, bluish or purplish-black. This is the largest of the privets in NZ and unclipped trees become wide spreading and reach c.14 m.

HABITATS

Forest, lowland and coastal, forest fragments, shrublands, roadsides, farm hedges, wastelands and domestic gardens. Potentially a wide range of forest types. Widespread and common.

IMPACT TO BIOTA AND ECOSYSTEMS

Replaces mid canopy trees in forest (comparable in height to taraire, towai, pohutukawa). May completely dominate an area of forest or forest fragment in time if unhindered.

DISPERSAL ROUTES, VECTORS, INFESTATION SOURCES

Originated from domestic hedges now establishing on farm hedges, roadsides, vacant and untended land. Dispersed by birds, capable of long distance dispersal by kereru.

MANAGEMENT

Physical Control
Pull/dig out seedlings or chainsaw and treat stump.

Disposal
Compost or mulch. Timber makes average firewood. Leaves of tree privet can be burnt while fresh and green as they contain flammable oils.

Chemical Control
(i) Spray with Metsulfuron herbicide.

Rate - Handgun 35 g Metsulfuron + 100 mls Penetrant/100 litres water. Knapsack 5 g Metsulfuron + 10 mls Penetrant/10 litres water. Mistblower 10 g Metsulfuron + 10 mls Penetrant/10 litres water.

Glyphosate.

Rate - Handgun 1 litre Glyphosate+ 200 mls Penetrant/100 litres water. Knapsack 100 mls Glyphosate + 20 mls Penetrant/10 litres water.

(ii) Fell and treat the stump with 5gr Metsulfron + 10ml Penetrant / 1 litre water or 2 litres. Glyphosate + 10ml Penetrant / 10 litres water.

(iii) Stem cut and inject- Downwards cuts at base of the tree and apply herbicide to the point of runoff immediately after cuts have been made. 20gr Metsulfuron + 10ml Penetrant /1 litre of water or use Glyphosate neat.

For further information and more detailed control methods please refer to Environment Bay of Plenty's Fact Sheet PP10-Privet

Biological Control

Recommended Approach
Pull seedlings. Stem inject or stump treat larger trees.

FURTHER COMMENT

For further information please refer to Environment Bay of Plenty's Fact Sheet PP10-Privet

This plant is prohibited from propagation, sale and distribution within New Zealand!