Are privet trees illegal in NZ?

To help protect our environment: You must not breed, distribute, release or sell tree privet. As tree privet is a National Pest Plant Accord species, these restrictions apply within the Auckland region and across the whole of New Zealand.

How do I identify a privet tree?

IDENTIFYING FEATURES: small leaved privet has yellow-green leaves up to 7cm long, usually with wavy margins while broad leaved privet has dark green leaves up to 12cm long which always have smooth margins. Privet flowers are small and white in large sprays on the ends of or along the branches.

Can privet be grown as a tree?

It’s reliably evergreen and grows quickly to make a small tree, stiff and upright. The evergreen Chinese or glossy privet, Ligustrum lucidum, is a must for any garden, growing quickly to create a small tree.

Is privet bad for hay fever?

This evergreen tree only starts to produce pollen in late spring (November) up to early autumn (March), but anecdotally, privet is one of the most common hay fever triggers, possibly because it is widespread and hardy.

Is Ligustrum and privet the same?

If you live in the north-east, then European privet (Ligustrum vulgare) also called common privet, is the main bad-guy. Also sometimes called Chinese privet, but better called glossy privet, Ligustrum lucidum does indeed have attractive glossy foliage, but in areas like Texas it too is invasive.

Are privet trees invasive?

Privet is a successful invasive species because of its ability to outcompete and therefore displace native vegetation. This competitive superiority to native vegetation is connected with the plant’s ability to adapt to different light conditions.

Is privet a tree or shrub?

Ligustrum (Privet) is a semi-evergreen shrub / small tree with dark green leaves that can reach up to 50 feet high. It grows in full sun to partial shade and forms dense thickets, making it a popular landscaping shrub for hedges. Like other invasive plants, it grows in all soil types.

Is privet fast growing?

This robust shrub is a relatively fast grower – around 30cm per year – and grows well in most conditions, except for particularly wet sites. Privet is also suitable for coastal locations, although you may notice some defoliation during winter.

How do you grow a privet tree?

To plant a new privet hedge, create a trench two feet wide and two feet deep, space individual shrubs about 12 inches apart, and bring soil up to the branching trunk. Water deeply and frequently the first year, using drip irrigation.

Are privet trees poisonous?

Privet is a genus of shrubby, evergreen plants indigenous to Europe and parts of Asia. Privet berries are poisonous for dogs as well as humans and the leaves can be even more toxic in large quantities. Toxicity is due to the presence of terpenoid glycosides.

How long do privet trees live?

Under the right conditions, this privet will live up to 30 years. The shrub will do its best in partial shade to full sun. It can adapt to both moist and dry conditions. For most homeowners, there will be no issues with these shrubs.

Are there any restrictions on tree privet in Auckland?

As tree privet is a National Pest Plant Accord species, these restrictions apply within the Auckland region and across the whole of New Zealand. You must not plant tree privet within the Auckland region, unless you are transferring an existing plant on your land to another location within the boundaries of the same property.

What is a privet tree?

Tree privet is a very hardy plant that can grow in most conditions. Parkland with Significant Ecological Areas — Site-led Medium sized evergreen tree < 10 m tall. Flowers are fragrant, tubular, white with purple/mauve anthers and borne in spring – summer. Fruit is purple/black and ripens in autumn. To help protect our environment:

When is the best time of year to plant privet?

Easiest to spot during spring flowering. Don’t replant until seedling regrowth ceases, as privet will grow through groundcover. If removing large adult trees and opening up an area to light, be prepared to treat the resulting seedlings that will germinate to prevent creating a thicket of saplings which are more labour intensive to control.

What is the best way to get rid of a privet?

Privet is easy to kill with metsulfuron and if we approach it as a community, seeking out and removing the outliers and pushing back the boundaries of the worst infestations we can protect the rest of the peninsula from becoming what will otherwise be privet forest.