| Japanese privet | USDA PLANTS Symbol: LIJA U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Shrub or Subshrub Hardwood Trees |
| Ligustrum japonicum Thunb. |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Scrophulariales: Oleaceae |
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| Native Range: Japan, Korea (REHD, BAIL); | |
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
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| 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 |
| EDDMapS Distribution: This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org |
 State(s) Where Reported invasive. Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database. |
| U.S. National Parks where reported invasive: |
| San Antonio Missions National Historical Park (Texas) |
