Wax-leaf Ligustrum vulgare
Other Common Name(s):
- 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 leaves 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 so 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
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- 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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Semi-fleshy, green drupe that matures to black
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small, white, 4-parted, tubular, flowers in terminal clusters. Blooms in June
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Simple 2.5-inch long oval to lance-shaped dark green leaves are oppositely arranged with smooth margins
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Bark Description:
- Mature bark is thin and gray to brown
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Scales:
- Enclosed in 2 scales
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Smooth gray to brown twings
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- 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
