Accession Count: 14
Common Name:
common privet
Family Name:
Oleaceae
Botanical Name:
Ligustrum lucidum
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
One of the largest ligustrum species, Ligustrum lucidum is a small, round, evergreen shrub to small tree. At maturity, the tree's dimensions are around 30 ft tall and ten ft in diameter. Bark is tan to gray in color, and smooth. The leaves are glossy, dark green, and leathery, growing four to six inches in length with pointed ends. Flowers are white, appearing in late summer, and are arranged in upright panicles to ten inches long (6). Flowers have both male and female parts. Each flower has petals fused into a tube with four separate lobes. The flowers are borne on short lateral branches on the end of the twig. L. lucidum has blackish blue, small, round fruit containing 1-4 seeds that can be toxic (3).
Compound:
Lig luc
Geographic Origin:
China
Ecozone Origin:
Palearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
Ligustrum lucidum is native to China, Korea, and Japan, and was introduced to the United States. Widely used as a hedge in old world gardens, and a landscape plant, this tree was discovered to be invasive, and therefore classified as a weed. Now, the tree has become established in the United States, especially in California, and the US Southeast, including Florida (4).
Cultivation Notes:
Ethnobotany:
Due to its indestructible nature and positive response to shearing, privet was once in wide use, especially as a street tree.
Height:
20 - 50 feet
Width:
6 - 10 feet
Growth Rate:
Moderate Growing
Grow Season:
Winter
Flower Season:
Summer
Color:
Function:
Patio
Spread:
Allergen:
Allergenic
Invasive:
Invasive
Toxicity:
Toxic
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Moderate Water Use
