Chinese privet, a member of the olive family, is a perennial shrub, native to Asia. It has been cultivated since ancient times and has been developed into several horticultural varieties. The date of its introduction to the United States is not known precisely, but it has been planted widely as a hedge in landscaping since at least the beginning of the 20th century. Privet readily grows from seed or from root and stump sprouts. The berries are relished by wildlife, particularly birds, which consume the berries during winter when other foods are scarce. The seeds are deposited widely in droppings, where they may germinate and spread to adjacent areas, often forming dense monocultural thickets. Privet frequently occurs along roadsides and other areas of disturbed soil at elevations below 3000 ft. and becomes established in old fields and landscapes that have abundant sunlight. It can may spread into forests, but usually does not produce fruit in heavily shaded areas.

Chinese privet can grow up to 16 ft. in height and will form trunks up to a diameter of 10 in. The bark beige to gray in color and smooth. New branches are covered with a fine pubescence. Slender twigs are straight, rounded, and gray-green. Chinese privet may be evergreen in the more southerly range and deciduous further north. Leaves are elliptical to oval, opposite, leathery, dull on the upper surface, and have 4 to 5 pairs of indistinct veins. Terminal clusters of small, fragrant, white flowers bloom in June through July. Fruits initially are green, but turn dark purplish to black in September and October when mature, and persist through the winter. Mature plants can produce thousands of fruits, each containing 1 to 4 seeds. Seeds are reported to have low germinability, but are more likely to germinate after passing through the gut of animals.