There are a couple of them on our drive. I’m in western NC. I doubt they are native.

It's Autumn Olive. It's a bad invasive. The berries are edible when ripe and are often called lycopene berries.

Keith

Thanks Keith.

I’d kill them before the berries are ripe. Although it’s probably too late since they already showed up, the birds really like to spread them. They’re awful to maintain once established.

This ^^^^^. The worst invasive I've seen in my lifetime.

Kill them they a real pain in you woods.

i bought a property 25 or so years ago. Hunter I got it from apparently heard olive was the best thing for deer. Couple fields ringed with it. Its never been a problem. Occasionally Ill push one over with the tractor.

Cut them and they come back stronger. Pushing out with a tractor doesn't work because if you leave any root alive in the ground it will come back. 24D works on them. Cutting and painting the stub ends with straight 40% Glyphosate works. It will take over a property, A real PITA.

A seriously bad invasive, so naturally the Gov planted it along the highways for beautification!

I was told that the Michigan DNR used to pass out seed when you purchased a deer hunting license. Not sure if 60's, 70's? huge mistake, right along with introducing the ground hog.