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
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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 olive family (Oleaceae) and native to eastern Asia. The species epithet references Japan, where the species first came to the attention of Swedish botanist Carl Peter Thunberg.
It grows rapidly up to 12 feet tall and 6 feet wide in sun to partial shade. It is dense and upright, drought and salt spray tolerant, and grows in a range of soil conditions (except constantly wet). Japanese privet is weedy in disturbed areas around buildings and has escaped and naturalized in moist areas.
Japanese privet flowers in late spring with four-parted flowers that attract a wide array of insects. However, the flowers have an odor that is offensive to many people. It has dark green foliage and is frequently planted around buildings and pruned to a "giant meatball" shape or small tree. When pruning, keep in mind that next year's blossoms will appear on new growth.
Quick ID Hints:
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Leaves are opposite, evergreen, entire, and coriaceous.
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4 to 5 pairs of lateral veins are raised under leaves.
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Twigs are profusely dotted with large gray lenticels.
Listed as invasive in North Carolina by:
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Invasive Plant Atlas of the MidSouth.
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North Carolina Forest Service.
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North Carolina Native Plant Society, "Significant Threat"
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. Invasive. See native or less problematic suggestions to the left.
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- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Jack Frost'
Irregular white blotches on the leaves.
'Recurvifolium'
- 'Rotundifolium' (aka 'Coriaceum')
3-4 ft. by 3 ft., stiffly upright with curly, whorled leaves - 'Silver Star'
Green leaves with grayish mottling and creamy white margins.
Curved leaves - 'Jack Frost'
- 'Jack Frost', 'Recurvifolium', 'Rotundifolium' (aka 'Coriaceum'), 'Silver Star'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Jack Frost'
Irregular white blotches on the leaves.
'Recurvifolium'
- 'Rotundifolium' (aka 'Coriaceum')
3-4 ft. by 3 ft., stiffly upright with curly, whorled leaves - 'Silver Star'
Green leaves with grayish mottling and creamy white margins.
Curved leaves - 'Jack Frost'
- 'Jack Frost', 'Recurvifolium', 'Rotundifolium' (aka 'Coriaceum'), '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:
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Oval
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- 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
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are flat, berry-like drupes that are 0.2 inches long and start green and ripen to blue-black.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Trumpet
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Creamy white, fetid flowers on 2- to 6-inch terminal pyramidal panicles in late spring.
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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 or 5 pairs of indistinct raised veins on the undersurface and grow 2- to 4-inches long.
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Bark:
- Surface/Attachment:
- Lenticels
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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:
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- 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
