Family: Oleaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Grows in temperate to subtropical climates, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Able to grow in regions with subtropical climates
  
• Naturalized in several locations (but no evidence in Hawaiian Islands to date)
  
• A garden and environmental weed on the mainland US
  
• Other Ligustrum species are invasive
  
• Toxic to animals (horses) and people
  
• Host of pathogens
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Forms dense stands, excluding other vegetation
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively by suckering
  
• Seeds dispersed by birds, other frugivorous animals and intentionally by people
  
• Able resprout from cut stumps

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Browsed by deer and cattle (palatable despite reports of toxicity)
  
• Ornamental
  
• Seeds require cold stratification (may limit ability to spread in regions with tropical/subtropical climates)
  
• Reaches maturity in 5+ years
  
• Recalcitrant seeds (unlikely to form a persistent seed bank)
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control