This month we are highlighting the invasive plant species, Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense). Invasive plants present an issue because they can grow in dense thickets and crowd out native plants, which affects the biodiversity of an area.
Privet can grow in a wide range of conditions, but can often be found in riparian areas and forest understories.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when trying to identify invasive privet:
1. The leaves of a privet plant are opposite, oblong, and are a darker green on the top and a lighter green on the bottom.
2. Privet flowers from April to June and consists of a cluster of white/cream-colored flowers.
3. In September and October, the small green berries ripen to a dark blue/black and persist through winter.
4. It grows as a multi-stemmed shrub.
