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Chinese Privet

Ligustrum sinense

An invasive shrub that forms dense thickets and displaces other vegetation. Found in moist forests, especially alluvial bottomlands, and also in a wide range of other forests, woodlands, glade edges, etc. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), South Central edition What its natural habitat tells you

-85
Severe harm

Not native to Alabama. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 71%

Height
6½–15 feet
Spread
10–15 feet
Light
Dappled sunlight, Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Dry to moist
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Do not plant. Listed invasive in Alabama.

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At a glance

Life cycle
Woody perennial
Leaves
Semi-evergreen or evergreen
Bloom
Late spring

Recorded in 64 Alabama counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 3

Forests and woodlands

Trail on Little Kennesaw Mountain.
Named place / source context. Shown: Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Georgia, a neighboring state.Trail on Little Kennesaw Mountain., Unidentified in HFC record, undated. Public domain. Source record.

Moist forests

Forests on moist but not wet ground, such as rich slopes and ravines.

Floodplain and bottomland forests

Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Alabama. Shared habitat, not food. 169 animals.

All wildlife of Alabama

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

31CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AL

Genus host records with ranges including AL · Ligustrum

  • Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger
  • Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
  • Aethalura intertextaFour-Barred Gray
  • Apantesis naisNais Tiger Moth
  • Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
  • Automeris ioIo Moth
  • Callosamia prometheaPromethea Silkmoth, Promethea Moth
  • Ceratomia undulosaWaved Sphinx
  • Cerma cerinthaTufted Bird-Dropping Moth, Cherry Agate
  • Citheronia regalisRoyal Walnut Moth, Hickory Horned Devil
Show all 31
  • Dolba hyloeusPawpaw Sphinx
  • Eacles imperialisImperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
  • Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
  • Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
  • Harrisimemna trisignataHarris's Three-Spot
  • Hymenia perspectalisSpotted Beet Webworm
  • Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
  • Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
  • Manduca rusticaRustic Sphinx
  • Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
  • Paleacrita vernataSpring Cankerworm Moth
  • Palpita quadristigmalisFour-Spotted Palpita, Privet Moth
  • Paonias myopsSmall-Eyed Sphinx
  • Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
  • Podosesia syringaeLilac Borer Moth, Ash Borer
  • Sphinx franckiiFranck's Sphinx
  • Sphinx kalmiaeFawn Sphinx, Laurel Sphinx
  • Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
  • Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
  • Astala confederata
  • Desmia tages
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Oleaceae
Hardiness
Zones 6a–9b
Soil pH
Alkaline
Flower color
White

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Choose a locally appropriate native alternative. Established plants spread by suckers and bird-dispersed seeds. NC State Extension

Growing sources and scope

Recognizing it

Small opposite leaves, hairy young stems, white flower clusters, and dark fleshy fruit. Identification source

Also known as

Privet Hedge

Conservation status

Alabama rankSNA
Global rankGNR
AL statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources