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Japanese Privet

Ligustrum japonicum

Other Common Names

Japanese Ligustrum

Plant Category

Shrub, Tree

Invasive Description

Native to Japan and Korea, Japanese Privet is an evergreen shrub or small tree to 6-12 feet tall. It has opposite dark green, glossy leaves up to 4 1/2 inches long and 2 inches wide. Flowers are white and produced in dense clusters up to 8 inches long. The dark blue/black berrylike fruits often hang on into winter.

Ecological Threat

Japanese Privet can completely dominate an area, outcompeting native plants for light, water, and space. Few insects feed on it. It colonizes by root sprouts and animal dispersed seeds and can create a monoculture, changing the forest understory.

How to Eradicate

For information on how to eradicate this invasive, view our statement on herbicide use and preferred alternatives for invasive plants.

Native Alternatives

You can replace this invasive plant with native alternatives. Here are some plants that make superior replacements.

Match your location on the Texas map to the color squares on the replacement plants below to find suitable replacements for your ecoregion.

Click for more details about the ecoregions