This plant is problematic, and alternatives should be considered. Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column. Glossy privet is a broadleaf evergreen shrub in the olive (Oleaceae) family native to southern China and Korea. The species epithet is Latin and means "bright or shining." This shrub is drought-tolerant in dry conditions and alkaline soil. It is often used as a screening plant and tolerates severe pruning. Glossy privet usually grows as a shrub 12 to 15 feet tall, but if trained as a tree could grow to 30 feet tall. The dark green leaves are glossy, pointed and opposite. Glossy privet blooms in late spring to early summer and has small, creamy white flowers. The flower's fragrance is very pungent and may be objectionable to some people. The fruits are drupes and are attractive to birds. It is not as cold-hardy as Japanese privet ( Ligustrum japonicum ). When pruning, keep in mind that next year's blossoms will appear on new growth. To keep the shrub from spreading, prune off the flowers before they set fruit. Glossy privet has been used as a hedge or screen and in shrub borders. However, it is not recommended because of its weedy tendencies. Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column for alternatives. Quick ID Hints: Leaves are opposite with an opaque rim along margins 6 to 8 lateral veins sunken on the undersurface Terminal panicles with persistent dark fruit Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Whiteflies, Japanese and ligustrum weevils, white peach scale, and privet rust mites are common insect problems. Anthracnose, twig blight, cankers, powdery mildew, and root rot are common disease problems. Susceptible to copper deficiency. It can be weedy in disturbed areas and has escaped and naturalized in moist areas. It is considered invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council. The berries produced by this plant are toxic. Dogs can be adversely affected by eating the berries or leaves of privet.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet | Very Dry
Available space
6-feet-12 feet; 12-24 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 15 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in. | Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Mounding; Vase
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Glossy
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are glossy, green, opposite, simple, coriaceous, with 6 to 8 pairs of lateral veins that are sunken on the undersurface. Veins are translucent when they are held up to light. Leaves have an opaque, smooth rim along the margins.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Trumpet; Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Small, perfect, creamy white flowers on 5- to 8-inch, pyramidal panicles bloom in the early summer. Flowers are 4-parted, tubular, in terminal clusters, and have an unpleasant odor.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Black; Blue
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fruits are 1/4-inch, semi-fleshy, olive-like drupes that are blue-black. They persist into winter.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Central & Southern China to Hainan and Southern Korea