Ligustrum L. (Oleaceae)

A genus of about forty species of shrubs and trees; Old World.

Four species reach tree size in North Carolina, none are native to the state.

1. Leaves (3-) 4-13 (-15) cm long…2.

2. Leaves mostly (3-) 4-8 (-9) cm long, primary lateral veins 3-5 pairs, apex acute to abruptly acuminate, abaxial midvein covered by epidermis; flowers short-pedicellate on pedicels 0.5-2 mm; corolla tube hardly exserted from calyx, ca. equal lobe length…*L. japonicum (Japanese privet)

Bark of Ligustrum japonicum (Photo: A. Krings, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

Twig of Ligustrum japonicum (Photo: A. Krings, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

Leaves of Ligustrum japonicum (Copyright W. Cook)

Flowers of Ligustrum japonicum (Copyright W. Cook)

Flowers of Ligustrum japonicum (Copyright W. Cook)

Fruit of Ligustrum japonicum (coming soon)

N.C. distribution of Ligustrum japonicum

U.S. distribution of Ligustrum japonicum

*Ligustrum japonicum (Japanese privet)
(Rare [native of Japan and Korea]; disturbed places; Pd, CP; Fl: Apr-Jun)

2. Leaves (4.5-) 6-13 (-15) cm, primary lateral veins (5-) 6-8 pairs, apex usually long-acuminate, abaxial midvein not covered by epidermis; flowers subsessile on pedicels 0-0.5 mm; corolla tube distinctly exserted from calyx, ca. 2× longer than lobes…*L. lucidum (Broadleaf privet)

Bark of Ligustrum lucidum (Photo: A. Krings, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

Twig of Ligustrum lucidum (Photo: A. Krings, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

Leaves of Ligustrum lucidum (Copyright W. Cook)

Leaves of Ligustrum lucidum (Copyright W. Cook)

Flowers of Ligustrum lucidum (coming soon)

Fruit of Ligustrum lucidum (Photo: A. Krings, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

N.C. distribution of Ligustrum lucidum (coming soon)

U.S. distribution of Ligustrum lucidum

*Ligustrum lucidum (Broadleaf privet)
(Rare [native of China, Japan, and Korea]; disturbed places; this species is superficially similar to L. japonicum; the lateral leaf veins are translucent in this species; Pd, CP)

1. Leaves 1.5–6 (-6.5) cm long…3.

3. Branchlets glabrous and usually glossy…*L. ovalifolium (California privet)

Bark of Ligustrum ovalifolium (coming soon)

Twigs of Ligustrum ovalifolium (coming soon)

Leaves of Ligustrum ovalifolium (coming soon)

Flowers of Ligustrum ovalifolium (coming soon)

Fruit of Ligustrum ovalifolium (coming soon)

N.C. distribution of Ligustrum ovalifolium

U.S. distribution of Ligustrum ovalifolium

*Ligustrum ovalifolium (California privet)
(Rare [native of Japan]; disturbed places; Pd, CP; Fl: Apr-Jul)

3. Branchlets minutely hirtellous, hirsute-hirtellous, or hirsutulous…*L. sinense (Chinese privet)

Bark of Ligustrum sinense (Copyright W. Cook)

Twig of Ligustrum sinense (Photo: A. Krings, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

Leaves of Ligustrum sinense (Copyright W. Cook)

Flowers of Ligustrum sinense (Copyright W. Cook)

Flowers of Ligustrum sinense (Copyright W. Cook)

Flowers of Ligustrum sinense (Copyright W. Cook)

Flowers of Ligustrum sinense (Copyright W. Cook)

Drupes of Ligustrum sinense (Copyright W. Cook)

N.C. distribution of Ligustrum sinense

U.S. distribution of Ligustrum sinense

*Ligustrum sinense (Chinese privet)
(Common [native of China]; moist forests, especially alluvial bottomlands; this species is one of the most noxious of our weeds, choking out native vegetation in hundreds of square kilometers of land in our area; Mt, Pd, CP)