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Chinese Privet

Ligustrum sinenseĀ 

Non-Native

Chinese Privet Locations in North America
Chinese Privet Locations in Southeast US
Chinese privet diagram

Chinese privet side view

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Illustration courtesy of University of Florida/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. Used with permission.

What is ChineseĀ Privet?

Physical Characteristics

Leaves:

  • Elliptical to oval shaped
  • Opposite on branches
  • 1-3 inches long
  • Covered in short, soft hair

Flowers:

  • 4 lobes
  • Small clusters
  • Located at ends of twigs

Fruit:

  • Stretched
  • Black-Blue in color
  • Fleshy
  • Thin skin
  • Containing 1-4 seeds
  • Found mostly during the winter

Stem:

  • Bark tan-gray in color
  • Smooth
  • Up to 20 feet tall

Where Does it Grow?

Non-Native

Chinese privet is native to china.

Is it Invasive?

This plant is not native to North America, but has naturalized in much of the United States. While it is not illegal to possess this plant in Texas, it should not be introduced into new water bodies and should be treated with herbicide when present.

How to Manage This Plant
Plant Glossary

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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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