- Appearance
- Ligustrum lucidum is a semi-evergreen shrub or small tree that grows up to 40 ft. (12.2 m) in height. The trunks usually occur as multiple stems with many long, leafy branches.
- Foliage
- Leaves are opposite, ovate to lanceolate, 3-6 in. (5-15.2 cm) long and 2-4 in. (5-10.2 cm) wide.
- Flowers
- Flowering occurs in late spring to late summer, when very abundant, white flowers develop at the end of branches in 5-8 in. (12.7-20 cm) long clusters.
- Fruit
- Fruits are <0.5 in. (1.3 cm) long, oval, fleshy and ripen to a dark blue to black color. Fruits persist into winter.
- Ecological Threat
- Several privet species occur and they are often very hard to distinguish. Ligustrum lucidum resembles Japanese privet (L. japonicum Thunb.), but the leaves of Japanese privet are shorter (2 in. [5.1 cm] long) and thicker. Ligustrum lucidum commonly forms dense thickets in fields or in the understory of forests. It shades and out-competes many native species, and once established, is very difficult to remove. It is commonly used as an ornamental shrub and for hedgerows.
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