Ligustrum sinense Lour.

Chinese Privet

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Chinese Privet is an introduced, invasive shrub or small tree in the Olive family (Oleaceae). It is native to China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. In Alabama Chinese Privet can be found throughout the state. It is sometimes cultivated and escapes to fence rows, vacant lots, disturbed woodlands, natural woodlands, and wetlands. In Alabama Chinese Privet is evergreen or tardily deciduous, shedding its old leaves just before producing new ones. The plant grows as a multi-trunked shrub or rarely as a single trunked small tree. The bark is smooth and tan to gray in color. The leaves are opposite, elliptic to ovate in outline, with entire margins. The upper side of the leaf is smooth and the petiole and veins on the lower surface are pubescent. Flowers are produced in terminal panicles. The flowers are white to cream colored and become yellowish before they fall. They flowers are fragrant, but the pollen is a severe allergen. The corolla is campanulate (bell shaped) with four lobes. The fruit is a blue-black drupe. Chinese Privet fruit are consumed by many species of birds during the winter months, and the seed are deposited over a wide area. Chinese Privet is listed as one of the 10 worst invasive species in Alabama by the Alabama Invasive Plant Council. Once established, Chinese Privet spreads by abundant seed formation and by prolific suckering from the roots. Chinese Privet forms dense infestations that exclude native species, and can prevent the regeneration of forest trees. It can be controlled by fire, pulling of small plants, and by the use of herbicides.--A. Diamond

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Not Native FAC (NWPL)

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