| European privet | USDA PLANTS Symbol: LIVU U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Shrub or Subshrub |
| Ligustrum vulgare L. |
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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Scrophulariales: Oleaceae |
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| Synonym(s): wild privet | |
| Native Range: Europe, N. Africa (REHD); Medit. reg (BAIL); | |
European privet is a deciduous shrub that grows up to 15 ft. (4.8 m) in height. The trunks usually occur as multiple stems with many long, leafy branches. Leaves are opposite, oblong, 1-2.4 in. (2.5-6 cm) long and 0.2-0.6 in. (0.5-1.5 cm) wide. Flowering occurs in June, when white flowers develop at the end of branches in 1-3 in. (2.5-7.6 cm) long clusters. Fruits are spherical, 1/3 in. (8.5 mm) long, ripen to a dark purple to black color and persist into winter. Several privet species occur and they are often hard to distinguish. European privet commonly forms dense thickets in the fields or in the understory of forests. It can also be found along streams and other moist sites. Native to Europe, it is commonly used as an ornamental shrub and for hedgerows. |
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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; Nava Tabak, Invasive Plant Atlas of New England, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); The Dow Gardens Archive, Dow Gardens, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Nava Tabak, Invasive Plant Atlas of New England, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Nava Tabak, Invasive Plant Atlas of New England, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Flower(s); Nava Tabak, Invasive Plant Atlas of New England, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Plant(s); Nava Tabak, Invasive Plant Atlas of New England, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Seed(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Diagram or Graphic; USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage |
 Diagram or Graphic; Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. Illustrated flora of the northern states and Canada. Vol. 2: 729. USDA PLANTS Database, 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. |
| Native Alternatives: | |
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Agarista populifolia (Florida hobblebush) Arctostaphylos columbiana (hairy manzanita) Arctostaphylos patula (greenleaf manzanita) Ceanothus velutinus (snowbrush ceanothus) Forestiera acuminata (eastern swampprivet) Forestiera pubescens var. pubescens (stretchberry) Illicium floridanum (Florida anisetree) Ilex glabra (inkberry) Lindera benzoin (northern spicebush) Lithocarpus densiflorus (tanoak) Morella californica (California wax myrtle) Morella cerifera (wax myrtle) Osmanthus americanus (devilwood) Photinia melanocarpa (black chokeberry) Photinia pyrifolia (red chokeberry) Prunus caroliniana (Carolina laurelcherry) Viburnum prunifolium (blackhaw) |  More Information on Native Plants at: www.beplantwise.org PlantWise is a partnership between the National Park Service, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, The Garden Club of America and The National Invasive Species Council to prevent harmful invasive plants from invading natural areas. |
