Wax-leaf Ligustrum vulgare
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Wax-leaf:
- 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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Deciduous shrub; leaves simple, opposite, with smooth margins; flowers small, white, 4-parted, tubular, in terminal clusters; fruit a semi-fleshy, black berry.
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. However, it is not listed as invasive in North Carolina by the Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.
- 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
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
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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:
- Deciduous
- 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
