• Also known as Chinese Privet and Hedge Privet: a much-branched, hardy, evergreen, fast-growing shrub to 4m from Asia, formerly used extensively for hedging.
• Leaves are oval with a pointed tip, to 6cm long, and often have a wavy margin.
• Masses of heavily-scented tiny white tubular flowers occur in drooping sprays in spring; they are highly allergenic.
• Sprays of small round blue-black berries persist into winter.

One plant may produce up to a million seeds, which are spread into bushland by birds, and are also washed down waterways.

Seeks out the more fertile soils of gullies, creeklines and rainforest edges, and watercourses affected by urban runoff; shades out native plants, transforms habitat.

Throughout the Blue Mountains.

Watercourses: Twiggy Heath-myrtle (Baeckea virgata) 2m; Water Gum (Tristania neriifolia), to 3m; Grey Myrtle (Backhousia myrtifolia) 4m plus; Hedging: Lillipilly (Acmena smithii) to 10m. Photinia (Photinia glabra 'Rubens') 3m.

Every stem must be poisoned by cutting and painting. Check for nests and dreys. Pull seedlings by hand. Seek advice from Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Resources (phone: 4721 0188) before removing from watercourses or steep land.