Invasive privet with berries
Image credit: Western New York PRISM
Ligustrum spp.
Characteristics
The Privet family includes multiple species, cultivars, and hybrids of privets that are often planted ornamentally but have a tendency to escape into natural habitats. KISMA focuses mainly on the border privet (Ligustrum obtusifolium), amur privet (Ligustrum amurense), and hybrids of the two. Common identifying characteristics include:
- woody shrub that grows around 10 feet tall with multiple stems
- opposite leaves are usually oblong to ovate in shape, and around 1.5 inches long
- stems, petioles, and leaves are often pubescent in varying amounts depending on the species
- white to cream flowers grow in clumps at the end of branches and bloom around June
Note: Differentiating between privet species can be challenging especially due to the likelihood of hybridization.
For more identification tips, or to differentiate between privet species, visit Woody Invasives of the Great Lakes (WIGL) Collaborative and Midwest Invasive Plant Network (MIPN)and search for privets.
Invasive privet shrub with flowers
Image credit: Richard Gardner
Opposite leaves of privet
Image credit: August Camp
Invasive privet flower
Image credit: Sigrid Resh
Invasive privet leaves and flowers
Image credit: Sigrid Resh
Privet lower branch leaf structure
Image credit: August Camp
Privet leaves with unripened berries
Image credit: August Camp
KISMA Management Practices
Invasive privets are capable of escaping gardens and establishing thick understory thickets in natural areas, making them a KISMA species of concern. An early infestation of invasive privet on the Tech Trails was identified and removed by KISMA in 2021. Although now removed, there are likely satellite populations elsewhere. Report any instances of invasive privets found in natural habitats to KISMA, as we are currently keeping an eye out for more occurrences of this species.