Curved-Leaf Privet Ligustrum japonicum 'Recurvifolium'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- li-GUS-trum juh-PON-ih-kum re-cur-vi-FOH-lee-um
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
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This plant is problematic, and alternatives should be considered. Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column.
Crinkle-leaf privet is an erect, evergreen shrub or small accent tree with curved leaves. It is a member of the olive family (Oleaceae). The cultivar epithet is Latin and means that the leaves are curved backward (or downward).
It is alkaline-, pollution-, sun- and shade-tolerant, as well as cold-hardy. It tolerates dry conditions and is intolerant of wet soils. It is susceptible to copper deficiency and various insect pests (see below).
This plant flowers in late spring and produces an odor that is offensive to many people. It has lustrous dark-green evergreen foliage that makes this plant useful in foundation planting, as a privacy screen, as a hedge, or even for planting in a container. This plant has a somewhat more open growth habit than the wild-type species and is hardier than other cultivars. It can be pruned; however, keep in mind that next year's blossoms will appear on new growth.
This cultivar is not presently known to be invasive, but the possibility exists that this might revert to the wild-type species and become a pest. This cultivar is not recommended for gardens in the Southeast.
Quick ID Hints:
- lustrous dark green, simple, entire leaves with indistinct veins
- leaves have undulating margins and are twisted at the tip
- prominent lenticels on the bark
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Whiteflies, Japanese and ligustrum weevils, white peach scale, and privet rust mites are common insect problems. Anthracnose, twig blight, cankers, powdery mildew, and root rot are common disease problems. Susceptible to copper deficiency. It can be weedy in disturbed areas and has escaped and naturalized in moist areas. The berries produced by this plant are toxic. Dogs can be adversely affected by eating the berries or leaves of privet.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ligustrum
- Species:
- japonicum
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Asia
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are berry-like drupes that are blue-black in color and less than an inch in size.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Trumpet
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are perfect, small and white, with a foetid odor. Like all privets, they have two stamens per flower. They grow on the terminal of a pyramidal panicle that is 2 to 6 inches long.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are opposite, simple, broad-ovate to ovate-oblong, 1 to 3 inches long, wavy at the margins, and twisted at the tip. They have 4 or 5 pairs of indistinct raised veins on the undersurface, have a lustrous dark green color, coriaceous, and glabrous.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Lenticels
- Bark Description:
- Twigs are smooth, gray, and covered with large lenticels.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Dry Soil
- Pollution
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Malodorous
- Problem for Dogs
- Weedy