Wild Privet
Ligustrum vulgare
Ligustrum vulgare, also known as Wild Privet, Common Privet, or European Privet, is native to central and southern Europe, north Africa, and southwestern Asia. Introduced as an ornamental plant for gardening, it has expanded its range to cover much of North America, Australia, and New Zealand, where it is now considered invasive.
Wild Privet is a deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub, growing up to 15'. The stems are stiff, with greyish-brown bark. Glossy leaves (3/4 – 2” long) are narrow, ovular, and oppositely arranged. During mid-summer, it produces clusters of white colored, tubular flowers with four petals. The fruit is a small and glossy blueish-black berry. The berries are poisonous to humans but are readily consumed by birds, which disperse the seeds in their droppings.
Ligustrum vulgare thrives in many different habitats such as grasslands, forests, and roadsides. It grows rapidly in disturbed environments, often out-competing native plants for sunlight, making it a threat to fragile ecosystems.
Wild Privet is a deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub, growing up to 15'. The stems are stiff, with greyish-brown bark. Glossy leaves (3/4 – 2” long) are narrow, ovular, and oppositely arranged. During mid-summer, it produces clusters of white colored, tubular flowers with four petals. The fruit is a small and glossy blueish-black berry. The berries are poisonous to humans but are readily consumed by birds, which disperse the seeds in their droppings.
Ligustrum vulgare thrives in many different habitats such as grasslands, forests, and roadsides. It grows rapidly in disturbed environments, often out-competing native plants for sunlight, making it a threat to fragile ecosystems.
