A privet is a

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants t ...

in the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

''Ligustrum''. The genus contains about 50

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriat ...

of erect,

deciduous In the fields of horticulture and Botany, the term ''deciduous'' () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, ...

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, whic ...

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from tree ...

s, sometimes forming small or medium-sized trees,

native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Native Americans (disambiguation) In arts and entert ...

to Europe, north Africa, Asia, many introduced and naturalised in Australasia, where only one species, ''Ligustrum australianum'', extends as a native into Queensland. Some species have become widely naturalized or invasive where introduced. ''Privet'' was originally the name for the European semi-evergreen

'' Ligustrum vulgare'', and later also for the more reliably evergreen '' Ligustrum ovalifolium'' and its hybrid '' Ligustrum × ibolium'' used extensively for privacy hedging, though now the name is applied to all members of the genus. The generic name was applied by

Pliny the Elder Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/2479), called Pliny the Elder (), was a Roman author, naturalist and natural philosopher, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the emperor Vespasian. He wrote the encyclopedic ' ...

(23–79 CE) to ''L. vulgare''. It is often suggested that the name ''privet'' is related to ''private'', but the OED states that there is no evidence to support this.

Description

Privet is a group of shrubs and small trees of southern and eastern Asia, from the Himalayas extending into Australia. They may be evergreen or deciduous, and are tolerant of different soil types. They often have conspicuous heads of white flowers followed by black

berries A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit, although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples are strawberries, ras ...

Uses and cultivation

In addition to being cultivated to create ornamental hedges and

foliage A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, ...

, privet is also widely used in horticulture and flower arrangements. The oval leaf privet '' Ligustrum ovalifolium'' is used for

hedge A hedge or hedgerow is a line of closely spaced shrubs and sometimes trees, planted and trained to form a barrier or to mark the boundary of an area, such as between neighbouring properties. Hedges that are used to separate a road from adjoi ...

s, while its flexible twigs are sometimes used as cords for lashing. The tree species, especially Chinese privet is frequently used as a street tree in Europe, while other species including '' Ligustrum japonicum'' and '' Ligustrum quihoui'' are among the others also sometimes used as

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that ...

s in gardens. Privet became very popular in Britain as a replacement for ornamental railings around properties, which had been lost to the 1941 Government compulsorily requisitioning of all post-1850 iron gates and railings for the war effort the idea being that the donated metal would be melted down for use in the manufacture of armaments in WWII, although this ultimately did not happen. The remaining stubs of sawn-off railings can still be seen on many garden walls in the UK, often partly obscured by privet bushes. Chinese privet is used in traditional

herbal medicine Herbal medicine (also herbalism) is the study of pharmacognosy and the use of medicinal plants, which are a basis of traditional medicine. With worldwide research into pharmacology, some herbal medicines have been translated into modern remedie ...

. The decoction of privet leaves or bark helps to treat diarrhea, stomach ulcers, chronic bowel problems, chapped lips, sore mouths and throats, and a wash for skin problems. Privet leaves and bark have bitter properties that make a useful tea for improving appetite and digestion in chemotherapy patients. Kuding is a Chinese tea made from either a ''Ligustrum'' or ''Ilex'' species. Some species produce a fruit, which is mildly toxic to humans. Symptoms from eating privet fruit include

nausea Nausea is a diffuse sensation of unease and discomfort, sometimes perceived as an urge to vomit. While not painful, it can be a debilitating symptom if prolonged and has been described as placing discomfort on the chest, abdomen, or back of th ...

headache Headache is the symptom of pain in the face, head, or neck. It can occur as a migraine, tension-type headache, or cluster headache. There is an increased risk of depression in those with severe headaches. Headaches can occur as a result ...

abdominal pain Abdominal pain, also known as a stomach ache, is a symptom associated with both non-serious and serious medical issues. Common causes of pain in the abdomen include gastroenteritis and irritable bowel syndrome. About 15% of people have a m ...

vomiting Vomiting (also known as emesis and throwing up) is the involuntary, forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose. Vomiting can be the result of ailments like food poisoning, gastroenter ...

diarrhea Diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having at least three loose, liquid, or watery bowel movements each day. It often lasts for a few days and can result in dehydration due to fluid loss. Signs of dehydration often begin w ...

weakness Weakness is a symptom of a number of different conditions. The causes are many and can be divided into conditions that have true or perceived muscle weakness. True muscle weakness is a primary symptom of a variety of skeletal muscle diseases, i ...

, low blood pressure, and low body temperature. At least some privet species are known to be toxic to horses.

Ecology

A plant may produce thousands of fruits, most of which are eaten by birds. Privet is used as a food plant by the larvae of some

Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order of insects that includes butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 families and 46 superfamilies, 10 percent of the total described speci ...

species including the

common emerald The common emerald (''Hemithea aestivaria'') is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species is found throughout the Nearctic and Palearctic regions and the Near East. It is mostly commonly found in the southern half of the British Isles. It was ...

common marbled carpet The common marbled carpet (''Dysstroma truncata'') is a moth of the family Geometridae. It is sometimes placed in the genus '' Chloroclysta''. It is very common throughout the Palearctic region and the Near East. The species was first described ...

, copper underwing, engrailed,

mottled beauty The mottled beauty (''Alcis repandata'') is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. Subspecies and forms Subspecies and forms include: *''Alcis repan ...

scalloped hazel The scalloped hazel (''Odontopera bidentata'') is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Carl Alexander Clerck in 1759. Distribution It is a common species of northern and central Europe including the British Is ...

, small angle shades, v-pug,

privet hawk moth ''Sphinx ligustri'', the privet hawk moth, is a moth found in most of the Palearctic realm. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of ''Systema Naturae''. Description It has a wingspan (generally deflexed ...

and willow beauty.

Invasiveness

Privet is a successful invasive species because of its ability to outcompete and therefore displace native vegetation, due to its adaptability. Various species are now a problem in North America, Australia and New Zealand.

Selected species

The

Integrated Taxonomic Information System The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) is an American partnership of federal agencies designed to provide consistent and reliable information on the taxonomy of biological species. ITIS was originally formed in 1996 as an interagen ...

lists eleven "accepted" species of ''Ligustrum''. Additional species are listed in other references.Flora of China
''Ligustrum''
/ref>Flora of Taiwan
''Ligustrum''
Flora Europaea
''Ligustrum''
/ref> *''

Ligustrum amamianum ''Ligustrum japonicum'', known as wax-leaf privet or Japanese privet ( ja, ネズミモチ) is a species of ''Ligustrum'' (privet) native to central and southern Japan (Honshū, Shikoku, Kyūshū, Okinawa) and Korea. It is widely cultivated in ot ...

'' (China) *'' Ligustrum amurense'' (Northern China) – Amur privet *''

Ligustrum angustum A privet is a flowering plant in the genus ''Ligustrum''. The genus contains about 50 species of erect, deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes forming small or medium-sized trees, native to Europe, north Africa, Asia, many introduced and nat ...

'' (China) *'' Ligustrum australianum'' (Wet Tropics, NE. & C. Qld, Australia) – Australian privet *'' Ligustrum chenaultii'' (Yunnan Province, China) *'' Ligustrum compactum'' (Himalayas, southwest China) *'' Ligustrum confusum'' (Himalayas, Khasi Hills, Vietnam) *''

Ligustrum delavayanum A privet is a flowering plant in the genus ''Ligustrum''. The genus contains about 50 species of erect, deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes forming small or medium-sized trees, native to Europe, north Africa, Asia, many introduced and nat ...

'' (Southwest China, Myanmar) *'' Ligustrum expansum'' (China) *'' Ligustrum glomeratum'' (Thailand, Malaysia) *'' Ligustrum gracile'' (China) *'' Ligustrum henryi'' (Central China) *''

Ligustrum ibota A privet is a flowering plant in the genus ''Ligustrum''. The genus contains about 50 species of erect, deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes forming small or medium-sized trees, native to Europe, north Africa, Asia, many introduced and nat ...

'' (Japan) *''

Ligustrum indicum A privet is a flowering plant in the genus ''Ligustrum''. The genus contains about 50 species of erect, deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes forming small or medium-sized trees, native to Europe, north Africa, Asia, many introduced and nat ...

'' (Himalayas, Indochina) *'' Ligustrum japonicum'' (Japan, Korea) Japanese privet *'' Ligustrum leucanthum'' (China) *'' Ligustrum lianum'' (China) *'' Ligustrum liukiuense'' (Taiwan) *''

Ligustrum longitubum A privet is a flowering plant in the genus ''Ligustrum''. The genus contains about 50 species of erect, deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes forming small or medium-sized trees, native to Europe, north Africa, Asia, many introduced and nat ...

'' (China) *'' Ligustrum lucidum'' (China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam) - Chinese privet, glossy privet *'' Ligustrum massalongianum'' (Himalayas) *'' Ligustrum micranthum'' (the

Bonin Islands The Bonin Islands, also known as the , are an archipelago of over 30 subtropical and tropical islands, some directly south of Tokyo, Japan and northwest of Guam. The name "Bonin Islands" comes from the Japanese word ''bunin'' (an archaic rea ...

, the

Volcano Islands The or are a group of three Japanese-governed islands in Micronesia. They lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and belong to the municipality of Ogasawara, Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. The islands are all active volcanoes lying atop ...

) *'' Ligustrum microcarpum'' (Taiwan); often included in ''L. sinense''. *'' Ligustrum morrisonense'' (Taiwan) *''

Ligustrum obovatilimbum A privet is a flowering plant in the genus ''Ligustrum''. The genus contains about 50 species of erect, deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes forming small or medium-sized trees, native to Europe, north Africa, Asia, many introduced and nat ...

'' (China) *''

Ligustrum obtusifolium ''Ligustrum obtusifolium'' (border privet or Amur privet) is a species of privet, native to Japan, Korea and northeastern China (Heilongjiang, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Shandong, Zhejiang).Flora of China''Ligustrum obtusifolium''/ref> The species is con ...

'' (

East Asia East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The modern states of East Asia include China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. China, North Korea, South Korea ...

) – Japanese deciduous privet *'' Ligustrum ovalifolium'' (Japan) – Korean privet, oval-leaved privet *'' Ligustrum pedunculare'' (China) *''

Ligustrum pricei ''Ligustrum pricei'' is a species of ''Ligustrum'', native to China (Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan) and Taiwan, where it occurs at 900–1700 m altitude.Flora of China''Ligustrum pricei''/ref> ''Ligustrum pricei'' is an evergreen shru ...

'' (Taiwan, Vietnam) *'' Ligustrum punctifolium'' *'' Ligustrum quihoui'' (China) *'' Ligustrum retusum'' (China) *''

Ligustrum robustum ''Ligustrum robustum'' grows as a shrub or small tree up to tall though old specimens of more than a hundred years have been observed with a height of . The fruit of the shrub is an ellipsoid berry, bluish-purple when fully ripe, × . ...

'' (India to Vietnam) *'' Ligustrum sempervirens'' (Western China) *''

Ligustrum sinense ''Ligustrum sinense'' (Chinese privet; syn. ''L. villosum''; in Mandarin: 杻; pinyin: chǒu) is a species of privet native to China, Taiwan and Vietnam,Flora of China''Ligustrum sinense''/ref> and naturalized in Réunion, the Andaman Islands ...

'' (China, Taiwan, Vietnam) – Chinese privet *'' Ligustrum strongylophyllum'' (Central China) *''

Ligustrum tenuipes A privet is a flowering plant in the genus ''Ligustrum''. The genus contains about 50 species of erect, deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes forming small or medium-sized trees, native to Europe, north Africa, Asia, many introduced and nat ...

''. (China) *''

Ligustrum tschonoskii A privet is a flowering plant in the genus ''Ligustrum''. The genus contains about 50 species of erect, deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes forming small or medium-sized trees, native to Europe, north Africa, Asia, many introduced and nat ...

'' (Japan) *'' Ligustrum vulgare'' (Europe, northwest Africa, southwest Asia) – common privet, European privet *'' Ligustrum xingrenense'' (China) *'' Ligustrum yunguiense'' (China)

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q753099 Garden plants