Ligustrum japonicum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- lig-GUS-trum juh-PON-ih-kum
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
-
This plant is problematic and alternatives should be considered. Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column.
Japanese Privet is a large evergreen shrub or small tree in the Oleaceae family that grows rapidly up to 3' in the sun to partial shade. It is dense and upright, drought and salt spray tolerant, can tolerate being pruned heavily, and grows in a range of soil conditions (except constantly wet). It flowers in late spring and has an odor that is offensive to many people. It has lustrous, dark green foliage and is frequently planted around buildings and pruned to a "giant meatball" shape. It can be grown as a small tree. It produces toxic berries.
Japanese privet is weedy in disturbed areas around buildings and has escaped and naturalized in moist areas. It works in the landscape as an evergreen ornamental shrub, however, it does not work well as a foundation plant. It is tolerant of alkaline soils, pollution, shade, dry conditions, and it cold hardy. It is intolerant of wet soil. Japanese Privet is susceptible to copper deficiency and whiteflies.
Listed as invasive in North Carolina by:
- Invasive Plant Atlas of the MidSouth
- Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States
- North Carolina Forest Service
- North Carolina Invasive Plant Council
- North Carolina Native Plant Society, "Significant Threat"
- NC State University, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves are opposite, evergreen, entire, and coriaceous
- 4-5 pairs of lateral veins are raised under leaves
- Twigs are profusely dotted with large gray lenticels
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Coriaceum'
- 'Rotundifolium'
3-4 ft. by 3 ft., stiffly upright with curly, whorled leaves - 'Silver Star'
Curved leaves - 'Coriaceum'
- 'Coriaceum', 'Recurvifolium', 'Rotundifolium', 'Silver Star'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Coriaceum'
- 'Rotundifolium'
3-4 ft. by 3 ft., stiffly upright with curly, whorled leaves - 'Silver Star'
Curved leaves - 'Coriaceum'
- 'Coriaceum', 'Recurvifolium', 'Rotundifolium', 'Silver Star'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ligustrum
- Species:
- japonicum
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South East China to Temp. Eastern Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruit attracts birds.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to damage by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Oval
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Texture:
- 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 Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a, 10b, 10a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are flat, berry-like drupes that are 0.2" long and blue-black in color.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Creamy white foetids on 2-6" terminal pyramidal panicles in late spring. They have an unpleasant odor.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are opposite, simple, broad-ovate to ovate-oblong, entire, coriaceous, glabrous, and dark green in color. They have 4-5 pairs of indistinct raised veins on the undersurface and grow 2-4" long.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Twigs are smooth, gray, and covered with large lenticels.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Pollution
- Salt
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
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-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, weakness, Gastrointestinal upset (most common), incoordination, increased heart rate, death (rare), low blood pressure, cold and clammy skin possibly lasting 48 to 72 hours
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Glycosides: syringin (ligustrin), a glycoside; shikimic acid (lowest toxic dose 4,000mg); and others
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Fruits
- Leaves
