Ligustrum vulgare (Privet)

Ligustrum vulgare L.

Privet, common privet

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Lamiales	Aromatic herbs and shrubs, including lavender, lilac, olive, jasmine, ash, teak, snapdragon, sesame, psyllium, garden sage, mint, basil, and rosemary
Family	Oleaceae	Temperate climate shrubs, trees and a few vines, include forsythia, ash, jasmine, privet, olive, lilac, and many others
Genus	Ligustrum	A Latin name for the privet plant
Species	vulgare	Latin for “common”

About plant names...

Common privet is a shrub native to northern Europe, the Mediterranean region, northern Africa, and Asia Minor. It is naturalized in North America, and, in many areas, considered an invasive species. They are often used as hedges. They appear in open woods, and are often found near the ocean. They prefer calcerous (e.g. limestone) soils.

Plants: Shrubs are evergreen, and reach heights of 10-15' (3-4.6 m), and nearly the same width.

Leaves: Opposite, oblong to lanceolate, ⅞-2" (2.5-6 cm) × ⅛-½" (5-15 mm), with smooth edges.

Flowers: White or cream-colored panicles of flowers, 1-3" (2.5-7.6 cm) long, appear in Apr-Jun.

Fuits: Berries are rounded, often copious, ¼-½" (8-13 mm) around, and ripen from green to dark purple or black.

Edibility: Poisonous Skull & Crossbones . Leaves and berries are mildly poisonous if ingested. The pollen triggers allergies in some people.

Online References:

Ligustrum vulgare on Invasive.org, Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health

Ligustrum vulgare at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Ligustrum vulgare on Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

Ligustrum vulgare on plants.ces.ncsu.edu

Ligustrum vulgare on www.texasinvasives.org

7/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s ID is uncertain

2/14/2012 · Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, Massachusetts
≈ 2½ × 2½" (6.9 × 7 cm) ID is uncertain

2/14/2012 · Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 5" (12 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

Ligustrum vulgare description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

12/4/2005 · Memphis, Tennessee · By Tim Chandler

7/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s ID is uncertain

3/17/2012 · North Central Railroad Trail, End, Phoenix, Maryland
≈ 11 × 7" (27 × 18 cm) ID is uncertain

7/18/2011 · Sue and Rai’s ID is uncertain

Range: Zones 4-7:

About this map...