PlantFiles: Glossy Privet
Ligustrum lucidum

Horribly invasive. There must be 200 seedlings around the neighborhood. And when you pull them, you better get the entire root or it will be back. Once established this plant is one tough SOB to kill.

The birds eat the seeds and leave them on my patio, elsewhere, the seeds sprout and have to be removed unless I want a forest on my hands. There are hundreds of volunteer trees in my neighborhood. Some trees reach 45' tall and 30' spread. If you like birds, by all means plant this tree in your yard.

How to distinguish Ligustrum japonicum from Ligustrum lucidum:

The leaf tips of Ligustrum japonicum are blunt or bluntly pointed; however, those of Ligustrum lucidum are sharply pointed. The leaf tips of Ligustrum lucidum tend to bend backwards a bit.

Ligustrum japonicum leaves are three to four inches (7.5 to 10 cm) long; whereas, Ligustrum lucidum leaves are four to six inches (10 to 15 cm) long.

When a L. lucidum leaf is backlit by strong light, the lateral veins are lucid and appear as is a “halo” (pinkish) on the leaf margins. L. japonicum leaf veins are inconspicuous or opaque before a strong light.

L. japonicum usually has a shiny, waxy leaf, whereas, a L. lucidum leaf is dull. L. japonicum leaves snap when bent. L. lucidum leaves usually just bend. They are thinner and softer than L. japonicum leaves.

When grown as a tree, L. japonicum is smaller in stature than L. lucidum and is usually 15 to 18 ft. (4.5 to 5.5 m) with an equal spread (can grow to 20 ft.). L. lucidum can grow 25 ft. (8 m) to 40 ft. (14 m) in height with a 25 ft. (8 m) to 35 ft. (12 m) spread.

L. japonicum usually has small clusters of tightly bunched fruit with L. lucidum having prominent, loose clusters of fruit.

A wonderful choice for creating a tall privacy hedge or pruned as a small tree. Much better suited to areas where Photinia x fraseri is overused and terribly susceptible to Entomosporium leaf spot. The distribution of seeds and subsequent appearance of seedlings might be frustrating for some gardeners. However, young seedlings are much easier to pull up than comparably sized pecan, mulberry or oak seedlings. Often erroneously referred to as "Japanese Ligustrum" by nurserymen in northern Texas.

An evergreen shrub that will quickly grow into a tree if left on it's own. Birds gobble up the profusion of berries, spreading seed *everywhere*. I've spent more time pulling seedlings this single plant than any other weed. : /

While this species is nice as a specimen, it should be avoided in general due to it's prolific seed production. Many other non-invasive alternatives exist. If you already have this plant in your landscape removal is difficult.

This is a truly obnoxious invasive tree. There is a large example in my neighbor's yard which drops seeds into my yard. The seeds yield many fast-growing saplings which grow up through the middle of other bushes and trees if that's where they start. Cutting them down does not kill them. They re-grow unless the roots are dug up.

Glossy Privet Ligustrum lucidum is naturalized in Texas and other States, and is considered an invasive plant in Texas.

This plant is much more invasive than waxleaf privet and gets much larger. They are found in ditches and along powerlines in my area. They produce thousands of seeds. I dont recommend it.