An important aspect of restoration ecology is the removal of non-native invasive plants. While restorations in urban areas involve similar challenges to restorations in rural areas, urban efforts also contend with unique issues such as increased fragmentation and decreased seed sources for native species. This study examined efforts to eradicate Ligustrum sinense and allow native vegetation to occupy the landscape. The herbaceous layer was inventoried at study plots in riparian bottomlands of four Atlanta, Georgia, natural areas two years after start of treatment to remove L. sinense. Plant taxa were described and compared to a similar study conducted in a rural area of northeastern Georgia. Significant abundance of L. sinense was recurring at urban sites while recurrence at rural sites was low. Other non-native invasive species, frequently used in urban landscaping, were also occurring at urban sites and not at rural sites
