Privets are members of the genus Ligustrum in the olive family. Other members of the olive family include olive trees, ash trees, and fringe trees. There are about 50 species of privets, but only one is commonly seen in Woodland.
Glossy Privet (Ligustrum lucidum) is an invasive weed from Asia. It usually grows 30 to 40 feet tall and equally wide, with dark green, evergreen foliage. It spreads by root suckers and by seeds. Its seeds are dispersed by birds, water, and dumped garden waste. It has "perfect" flowers (containing both male and female parts). Glossy Privet is ranked 9 out of 10 on the Ogren Plant Allergy Scale, indicating that it tends to cause severe hay fever.
U.C. Davis provides advice on how to eradicate Glossy Privet.
The City of Woodland is knowingly and intentionally growing Glossy Privet at Joseph Schneider Park, Pioneer Park, Streng Park, Wayne Cline Park, and the Woodland City Cemetery. The city has also planted Glossy Privets as street trees on 4th Street, 5th Street, Court Street, Grafton Street, Gum Avenue, Elliot Street, Elm Street, and Locust Street. In fact, the Urban Forest Resource Analysis published by the City of Woodland in 2018 indicated that the city was knowingly and intentionally maintaining 29 of these invasive weeds in Woodland.
Links
California Invasive Plant Council: Ligustrum lucidum
