Ligustrum

Not Recommended. Included here as an example of aggressive non-native species to avoid in south-central Texas, the ligustrums include several privet species used by homebuilders as instant evergreen hedges. Introduced as an ornamental, ligustrums have long escaped cultivation and some have come to dominate urban woodlands, where they replace native plants and trees. Glossy ligustrum’s purple berries are particularly noticeable in spring, when birds spread them, littering the ground with purple splatters. For a informal screening hedge, consider non-invasive native alternatives like cherry laurel, yaupon holly, silktassel, Texas mountain laurel, Texas torchwood, evergreen sumac, Ashe juniper, and cenizo.