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
- This plant is an invasive species in North Carolina
- Description
-
Glossy Privet is an open, leggy, large shrub or small tree that can grow up to 50' tall. This shrub is drought-tolerant, provides for excellent screening, and tolerates severe pruning. It is also tolerant of drought, dry conditions, and alkaline soils. It is not as cold-hardy as Ligustrum japonicum. This plant blooms in late spring to early summer, 2-3 weeks later than Ligustrum japonicum. Flowers are very pungent and may induce asthma in some people. It is considered invasive in California and Florida. It can become weedy in disturbed areas around buildings and naturalizes in moist areas. Use in the landscape as an irregularly-spreading ornamental shrub which will tolerate a range of soil conditions except when constantly wet. This plant has pest problems and produces toxic berries.
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
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 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:
-
-
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:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Vase
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
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
- 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
- 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.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
-
-
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
