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Ligustrum japonicum
Also called Wax Leaf Privet, Japanese Wax Leaf Privet, Japanese Wax Leaved Privette, Japanese Wax Leaved Privet, Wax Leaf Ligustrum
Japanese privet is an evergreen shrub or small tree, 2 to 5 m tall, with glossy, leathery dark green leaves and fragrant white flowers in early summer. It grows well in sun or shade and tolerates most soils, but it is invasive in parts of the southeastern United States.
Ligustrum japonicum, known as wax-leaf privet or Japanese privet (Japanese: 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 other regions, and is naturalized in California and in the southeastern United States from Texas to Virginia.
Lingustrum japonicum arrived in North America in 1845 from Japan and Korea. It has become an invasive plant, particularly in the American South as it has escaped from cultivation. It is occasionally grown as an ornamental plant in Europe and North America; several cultivars have been selected for garden use, including 'Rotundifolium' with leaves nearly as broad as long, and 'Silver Star' with creamy-white margins to the leaves. It has spread to various states in the United States due to its use in ornamental horticulture. In Florida, the FLEPPC does not list Ligustrum japonicum as an invasive species but it has escaped cultivation in 11 southeastern states including TX, AR, LA, MS, GA, SC, NC, TN, and PA9. Currently, 11 different species and hybrids from the privet genus are commercially available in the US.
The fruit is used in herbal medicine as a cardiotonic, diuretic, laxative, and tonic treatment. Ligustrum japonicum has different effects on osteogenic and adipogenic cells within the body.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Ligustrum japonicum by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
Pet safety from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists.
