| Japanese privet |
USDA PLANTS Symbol: LIJA USDA ARS GRIN: 22079 ITIS: 503449 |
| Ligustrum japonicum Thunb. | |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Scrophulariales: Oleaceae |
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Japanese privet is a thick, evergreen shrub that grows up to 20 ft. (6.1 m) in height. The trunks usually occur as multiple stems with many long, leafy branches. Leaves are opposite, oval, up to 2 in. (5.1 cm) long, with a pointed apex and often with margins that are slightly rolled. Flowering occurs in spring to summer, when very abundant, white flowers occur in clusters at the end of branches. Fruits are 0.2 in. (0.5 cm) wide, dark purple to black berries (drupes) that persist into winter. Japanese privet commonly forms dense thickets in fields or forest understories. It shades and out-competes many native species, and once established is very difficult to remove. Privet was introduced into the United States in the early 1800s. It is commonly used as an ornamental shrub and for hedgerows. Several privet species occur and they are very hard to distinguish. Japanese privet is sometimes set apart by the thickness and glossiness of the leaves. Glossy privet (L. lucidum W.T. Aiton) also has thick, glossy leaves, but the leaves are usually larger (3-6 in. [5-15 cm] long). |
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Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources
- Fire Effects Information System - USDA Forest Service
- Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy
- Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council Invasive Plant Manual - SE-EPPC
- Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas - National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests - USDA Forest Service
| Selected Images from Invasive.org | View All Images at Invasive.org |
 Foliage; July James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); J. Scott Peterson, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); J. Scott Peterson, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Seed(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
Taxonomic References:
- USDA, NRCS. 2001. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.1, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
Invasive Listing Sources:
- Faith Campbell, 1998. Plants that Hog the Garden: Invasive Plants in the United States. Fine Gardening Online
- John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.
- Nonnative Invasive Species in Southern Forest and Grassland Ecosystems
- Reichard, Sarah. 1994. Assessing the potential of invasiveness in woody plants introduced in North America. University of Washington Ph.D. dissertation.
- WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States
- Alabama Invasive Plant Council Watch list A
- Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council Category 2
- South Carolina Exotic Pest Plant Council Severe Threat
- Tennessee Exotic Pest Plant Council Significant Threat
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