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Eastern Swamp Privet

Forestiera acuminata

In the Carolinas and Georgia, found in swamp forests, especially over calcareous substrates. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you

25
Good

Native to Arkansas. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height
About 33 feet
Light
Full to part sun
Soil moisture
Wet
Will it fit your yard?

At a glance

Bloom
February to May
Fruiting season
April to June

Not yet recorded · Spread · Life cycle · Leaves

Recorded in 45 Arkansas counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Swamps

Forested wetlands with standing water much of the year, such as cypress and gum swamps.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Arkansas. Shared habitat, not food. 146 animals.

All wildlife of Arkansas

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

1CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AR

Genus host records with ranges including AR · Forestiera

  • Palpita quadristigmalisFour-Spotted Palpita, Privet Moth
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
2BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Forestiera

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
3BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Forestiera

  • Aix sponsaWood Duck
  • Ortalis vetulaPlain Chachalaca
  • Patagioenas leucocephalaWhite-crowned Pigeon
Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Oleaceae
Fruit begins
April
Fruit ends
June

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Conservation status

Arkansas rankSNR
Global rankNot available
AR statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source

In your garden

Will it fit your yard?

Check this plant against your county, sun and soil moisture. Conditions are checked in your browser.

Choose a county to begin.

How to check your spot

Sources