Ligustrum sinense
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- lig-GUS-trum sy-NEN-say
- 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.
Chinese privet is an evergreen ornamental shrub or small tree in the Oleaceae (olive) family that grows 6 to 13 feet tall. It has become an invasive weed in the southeastern US. It can form an impenetrable thicket and produces toxic berries.
Its fetid flowers bloom in late spring and have an odor that can be offensive to many people. 'Variegatum', a cultivar, has leaves that are bordered in gray to creamy white coloring. Chinese privet may revert to the species, so odd branches need to be removed. It is a fast grower and requires a lot of maintenance. It is alkaline tolerant, pollution tolerant, shade tolerant, and tolerant of poor soils.
Quick ID Hints:
- Opposite, elliptic, small leaves are 1-2" long
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. It can be weedy in disturbed areas has escaped and naturalized in moist areas.
Listed as invasive in North Carolina by:
- 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
- NC State Weed Specialist, "Moderately Weedy to Highly Invasive"
- Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Sunshine'
- 'Swift Creek'
variegated foliage, smaller - 'Sunshine'
- 'Sunshine', 'Swift Creek', 'Variegatum'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Sunshine'
- 'Swift Creek'
variegated foliage, smaller - 'Sunshine'
- 'Sunshine', 'Swift Creek', 'Variegatum'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ligustrum
- Species:
- sinense
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eurasia
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds are attracted to the fruit.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Chinese privet is resistant to damage by deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 6 in. - 13 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 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
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- 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)
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are clusters of black, semi-fleshy, berry-like drupes that birds like to eat.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cross
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Creamy white foetids are less than an inch large on 2-3" terminal panicles. Flowers bloom in the late spring and have an unpleasant odor.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are opposite, simple, elliptic to elliptic-oblong, entire, not coriaceous, glossy, and dark green in color. They grow 1-3" long.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are pubescent with gray-yellow coloration.
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Pollution
- Problems:
- Frequent Insect Problems
- Invasive Species
- Malodorous
- Poisonous to Humans
- Weedy
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-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- 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
