Tall-glossy Privet Ligustrum lucidum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- lig-GUS-trum loo-sid-um
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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This plant is problematic and alternatives should be considered. Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column.
Glossy privet is a broadleaf evergreen shrub in the olive (Oleaceae) family native to southern China and Korea. The genus name, Ligustrum, comes from the Latin word for privet. The species epithet, "lucidum", means "bright or shining."
This shrub is drought-toleramt in dry conditions and alkaline soil. It is often used as a screening plant and tolerates severe pruning. Glossy privet usually grows as a shrub 12 to 15 feet tall, but if trained as a tree could grow to 30 feet tall.
The leaves are glossy, pointed and opposite dark green. Glossy privet blooms in late spring to early summer and has small white creamy flowers. The flower fragrant is very pungent and may induce asthma in some people. The fruits are inedible drupes attractive to birds. But it is not as cold-hardy as Japanese privet ( Ligustrum japonicum ). When pruning keep in mind that next year's blossoms will appear on new growth. To keep the shrub from spreading prune off the flowers before they set fruit.
Privet has been used as a hedge or screen and in shrub borders. However it is not recommended because of its weedy tendencies. Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column for alternatives.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves are opposite with an opaque rim along margins
- 6-8 lateral veins sunken on the undersurface
- Terminal panicles with persistent dark fruit
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 and has escaped and naturalized in moist areas. It is considered invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council. 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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- Carolina Gold
- 'Excelsum Superbum'
- Marble Magic
- Variegata = Howardii
- Carolina Gold
- Carolina Gold, 'Excelsum Superbum', Marble Magic, Variegata = Howardii
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Carolina Gold
- 'Excelsum Superbum'
- Marble Magic
- Variegata = Howardii
- Carolina Gold
- Carolina Gold, 'Excelsum Superbum', Marble Magic, Variegata = Howardii
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ligustrum
- Species:
- lucidum
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central & Southern China to Hainan and Southern Korea
- Wildlife Value:
- Fruit attracts birds
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- deer
- Dimensions:
- Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Vase
- 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 pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are 1/4 inch, semi-fleshy, berry-like drupes that are blue-black in color. They persist into winter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Small, perfect, creamy white flowers on 5-8" pyramidal panicles bloom in the early summer. Flowers are 4-parted, tubular, in terminal clusters, and have an unpleasant odor.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are glossy, green, opposite, simple, coriaceous, with 6-8 pairs of lateral veins that are sunken on the undersurface. Veins are translucent when they are held up to light. Leaves have an opaque, smooth rim along the margins.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Problems:
- Malodorous
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Dogs
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- Ingestion causes abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, weakness, 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
