• Also known as Broad-leaf Privet, Tree Privet and Glossy Privet: a robust, vigorous, evergreen, fast-growing large shrub to small tree from Asia.
• Leaves are oval with a pointed tip, up to 13cm long, dark glossy green with a paler dull undersurface, smooth margin.
• Abundant heavily-scented small white tubular flowers are produced in clusters in summer; they are highly allergenic.
• Clusters of small round blue-black berries persist into winter.

Seed is spread deep into bushland by fruit-eating birds, both native and exotic, and is also washed down waterways, producing prodigious numbers of rapidly-growing seedlings.

Infests waterways and creeklines, shading out and replacing native species, creating an ecosystem dominated by weeds.

Lower Blue Mountains.

Blueberry Ash (Elaeocarpus reticulatus) to 8m; Lillypilly (Acmena smithii) to 10m; Water Gum (Tristaniopsis laurina) to 8m or more; Cheese Tree (Glochidion ferdinandi) to 12m. Fried Egg Plant (Gordonia axillaris) to 5m.

As for Woody Weeds. Check first for nests and dreys. Pull seedlings by hand. Seek advice from Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Resources (phone: 4721 0188) before removal from watercourses and steep land.