What began as an ornamental planting in the United States nearly two centuries ago has become a major ecological challenge across the American Southeast. Chinese privet, a shrub introduced to the country in 1852 for its ornamental value, has spread across millions of acres of forests, crowding out native plants and altering woodland ecosystems.
Known scientifically as Ligustrum sinense , Chinese privet is native to China, Vietnam and Laos. When it arrived in the US, gardeners valued the shrub for its rapid growth, glossy leaves and ability to form thick hedges. It was particularly useful as a border plant around gardens, farms and properties.
