What does it look like?
Chinese privet is a densely branched shrub growing up to 5m in height with smaller lightly hairy leaves up to 7cm long. Both privet species produce terminal clusters of white flowers with black or blue-black berries containing 100,000-10,000,000 seeds per bush or tree. Birds disperse the seed.
Why is it a problem?
It’s capable of producing dense stands that outcompete vulnerable shrub species. The berries are poisonous to humans and possibly to native fauna, especially insects. The pollen and scent of privet is believed to contribute to respiratory disorders such as asthma. However, research shows privet is not a strong allergen for most people.
Control methods
Physical control
Pull or dig seedlings (all year round). Leave on site to rot down.
Herbicide
Cut low and treat stump immediately (all year round) with 250ml glyphosate (360g/l) per 1L water or 5g metsulfuron-methyl (600g/kg) per 1L water.
Drill and fill (all year round) using a 10-12mm drill bit. Drill one downward sloping hole every 200mm around the base of the trunk and fill with undiluted glyphosate or 20g metsulfuron-methyl (600g/kg) per 1L water. Extra safety precautions must be taken if using undiluted herbicides.
Frilling: With a sharp chisel or axe, make a deep cut into the sapwood at regular intervals around the base of the tree, taking care not to ring-bark the plant. Immediately saturate the cuts with 250ml glyphosate per 1L water or 5g metsulfuron-methyl (600g/kg) per 1L water.
Spray (spring-autumn): 5g metsulfuron-methyl (600g/kg) + 10ml penetrant per 10L water or 100ml glyphosate (360g/l) + 10ml penetrant per 10L of water.
CAUTION: When using any herbicide or pesticide, PLEASE READ THE LABEL THOROUGHLY to ensure that all instructions and safety requirements are followed.
More information
Chinese privet is designated as a Sustained Control pest under the Hawkes Bay Regional Councils Regional Pest Management Plan 2018 – 2038 and is subject to Plan Rule 11.
Upon receipt by Regional Council of a doctors certificate or positive blood test clearly showing a person to be suffering a privet allergy, Council will, within the urban area, destroy any isolated Chinese privet within 50 metres of the residence or workplace of that person. If, upon inspection by Regional Council, large numbers of plants exist, including as hedges, a direction will be issued to the occupier to thoroughly prune them to prevent flowering or to remove the plants entirely.
It is an offence to distribute, breed, or sell Chinese privet in accordance with Section 52 and 53 of the Biosecurity Act.
Related links
Management Programme
Sustained Control Programme
To provide for ongoing control of the subject, or an organism being spread by the subject, to reduce its impacts on values and spread to other properties.
Rules
Plan rule 11
An occupier of land within the urban area will, upon receipt of a direction from an authorised person, destroy all privet on their land.
For the purpose of this Plan Rule, the urban area is defined as any property accessed from a street with a permanent speed zone of 50km or less.
Taxonomies
FamilyOleaceae
TypePlants
GroupShrub
HabitatLand
Management ProgrammeSustained Control Programme
RulesPlan rule 11
