Forestiera acuminata aka Swamp Privet

Forestiera acuminata is a deciduous shrub or small tree. Its common names include swamp privet and eastern swamp privet. It belongs to the olive family, Oleaceae. Its native range covers the central and southeastern United States. It grows in temperate regions, along wet riverbanks, ponds, and swamps. Its native range does not include Britain or Ireland.

The plant has an upright form and often makes clumps. Several stems may rise from the base. Plants For A Future gives a height of about 10 feet (3 m). Virginia Tech describes larger plants reaching 30 feet (9.1 m). These sources do not establish a clear garden size range. The gray-brown bark may stay smooth or develop shallow ridges. Many pale lenticels mark the bark. The slender, stiff twigs also bear pale, raised lenticels. Small, rounded brown buds sit along them.

The simple leaves grow in opposite pairs. Each narrow, oval blade ends in a long, pointed tip. Its base narrows to a wedge. Leaf edges may be smooth, finely toothed, or scalloped. Teeth tend to occur toward the leaf tip. The upper surface is green, with a paler underside. The plant sheds its leaves each year. Yellow flowers appear in March and April. Plants For A Future reports separate male and female flowers on one plant. The fruit is an oval, dark purple-brown drupe. Virginia Tech gives May to June for fruit ripening. Plants For A Future places seed ripening in July. Fruit production is rare in Britain, according to that source.

Grow swamp privet in full sun or partial shade. It prefers moist soil and suits damp garden sites. It accepts sandy, loamy, and clay soils. It also tolerates mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline conditions. Chicago Botanic Garden lists USDA hardiness zones 6–9. Its upright growth lends itself to screens and hedges. It also fits woodland gardens and lightly shaded edges. The supplied sources name no specific pests or diseases.

Plants For A Future records chewing the fruit as an edible use. The fruit has little dry flesh around a large seed. That source gives it a low food-use rating. It reports no known hazards, but does not establish pet safety. It also records a traditional drink made from roots and bark. This record does not establish a medical benefit. The wood has served for turned objects. Reports disagree about its strength, hardness, and weight.