Privet - Tree privet
|Botanical Name||Ligustrum lucidum|
IdentificationSmall to large sized evergreen tree, to 10 m high, sometimes a dense shrub. Shoots hairless. Leaves oval, glossy 50-130 mm x 30-60 mm. 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.
HabitatsForest, 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 EcosystemsReplaces 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 SourcesOriginated from domestic hedges now establishing on farm hedges, roadsides, vacant and untended land. Dispersed by birds, capable of long distance dispersal by kereru.
Pull/dig out seedlings or chainsaw and treat stump.
Compost or mulch. Timber makes average firewood. Leaves of tree privet can be burnt while fresh and green as they contain flammable oils.
(i) Spray with Metsulfuron herbicide.
Rate - Handgun 35 g Metsulfuron + 100 ml Penetrant/100 litres water. Knapsack 5 g Metsulfuron + 10 ml Penetrant/10 litres water. Mistblower 10 g Metsulfuron + 10 ml Penetrant/10 litres water.
Rate - Handgun 1 litre Glyphosate+ 200 ml Penetrant/100 litres water. Knapsack 100 ml Glyphosate + 20 ml Penetrant/10 litres water.
(ii) Fell and treat the stump with 5 g Metsulfron + 10 ml Penetrant / 1 litre water or 2 litres. Glyphosate + 10 ml 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. 20 g Metsulfuron + 10 ml Penetrant /1 litre of water or use Glyphosate neat.
Pull seedlings. Stem inject or stump treat larger trees.
This plant is prohibited from propagation, sale and distribution within New Zealand!