Skip to main content
Close

Chinese Privet

Ligustrum sinense

Photo by KenCheeks
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

33.488, -81.9749

Field Notes

Description:

Chinese privet is a species of privet, native to China, Taiwan and Vietnam. It is a deciduous shrub growing to 2–7 m tall, with densely hairy shoots. It has become an invasive species in the southeastern United States.

Habitat:

Invasive plant of the southeast. Likes southern deciduous forests and parks.

Notes:

Very invasive plant in the southeast. Chinese privet was introduced into the United States from China for ornamental planting. Having escaped from cultivation, it is now naturalized throughout the southeastern United States. The greatest threat posed by this species is large-scale ecosystem modification due to its ability to successfully compete with and displace native vegetation. Chinese privet plants mature rapidly and are prolific seed producers. They also reproduce vegetatively by means of root suckers. Once established, Chinese privet is difficult to eradicate because of its reproductive capacity.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)

KILL IT! Man this stuff is everywhere around our place, pulling it up by the root is the only answer.
Thanks for the addition to the mission, Ken! I hate hate hate hate hate this stuff! There are lots of places I like to hike that have major infestations! :)
Thank You, apparently I have Chinese Privet in my yard. They are not kidding it grows quick! But the flowers provide so much pollen for insects in Summer, and in Fall-Winter the berries are readily eaten by birds. Stick insects love to eat the leaves although they are not common by me, mantids hide in the hedge and lay ootheca in fall. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/6529515
The following link compares Japanese privet and Chinese Privet: http://nativeplantsfromala.blogspot.com/2010/06/japanese-privet-vs-chinese-privet.html
How can you tell Japanese and Chinese privet apart?

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon