Family: Oleaceae

High Risk Traits:

• Grows in 5 hardiness zones in temperate climates, demonstrating environmental versatility
  
• Naturalized in at least 20 states in the continental United States (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
  
• 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 to resprout from cut stumps

Low Risk Traits:

• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Browsed by deer (palatable despite reports of toxicity)
  
• Ornamental
  
• Reaches maturity in 3+ years
  
• Herbicides may provide effective control