Ligustrum japonicum

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 (olive) family native to eastern Asia. Japanese privet is weedy in disturbed areas around buildings and has escaped and naturalized in moist areas.

It grows rapidly up to 12 feet tall and 6 feet wide 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 with four parted flowers 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 or small tree. The bark on the stems has distinct lenicles. 

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 is cold hardy. 

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

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, root rot are common disease problems.  Susceptible to copper deficiency.  It can be weedy in disturbed areas has escaped and naturalized in moist areas.

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