Amur Ligustrum vulgare
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Amur:
- Phonetic Spelling
- lig-US-trum vul-GAR-ay
- 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.
Privet is a vigorous deciduous shrub in the Oleaceae (olive) family native to Eurasia.
The 'eaves are glossy, flowers are white and airy and followed by dark black fleshy berries that are enjoyed by birds. Birds tend to spread the seeds around to prune off flowers immediately to avoid setting 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 has escaped and naturalized in moist areas. It is listed as invasive in North Carolina by the North Carolina Native Plant Society (calling it a "Significant Threat") and NC State University's Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:


- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ligustrum
- Species:
- japonicum
- Family:
- Oleaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eurasia
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds eat the fruits.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- Semi-fleshy, black berry
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small, white, 4-parted, tubular, in terminal clusters
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Simple and opposite with smooth margins
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Problems:
- Invasive Species
- Poisonous to Humans
- 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, drooling, diarrhea, headache, weakness, low blood pressure, cold and clammy skin possibly lasting 48 to 72 hours, colic, depression.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Glycosides: syringin (ligustrin), a glycoside; shikimic acid (lowest toxic dose 4,000mg); saponins, protoanemonin and others
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Fruits
- Leaves