European Privet

Ligustrum vulgare

Found in disturbed places. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), South Central edition What its natural habitat tells you

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Not native

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

Profile 76%

Height: About 12 feet
Light: Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture: Somewhat dry to moist

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Vaccinium arboreum
Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: White.
Similar height, evergreen or deciduous, bloom season
Deerberry
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Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Dry to average. Flowers: Green, pink or white.
Similar growth form, height, bloom season
Smooth Azalea
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Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Yellow, pink or white.
Similar growth form, height, bloom season

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At a glance

Life cycle: Woody perennial
Leaves: Semi-evergreen or evergreen
Bloom: May to July
Fruiting season: Summer to fall

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Not yet recorded · Spread

Recorded in 2 Alabama counties.

Natural habitats

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

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Alabama. Shared habitat, not food. 117 animals.

Swainson's Warbler
Limnothlypis swainsonii
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophus bicolor
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Veery
Catharus fuscescens
Birds. 1 shared habitat
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
White-eyed Vireo
Vireo griseus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
White-winged Dove
Zenaida asiatica
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Willow Flycatcher
Empidonax traillii
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Wilson's Snipe
Gallinago delicata
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Wood Thrush
Hylocichla mustelina
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Worm-eating Warbler
Helmitheros vermivorum
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus americanus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Yellow-breasted Chat
Icteria virens
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Nyctanassa violacea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Dendroica coronata
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Yellow-throated Warbler
Dendroica dominica
Birds. 1 shared habitat

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 4a–7b
Flower color: White
Growth rate: Rapid
Growth habit: Several stems
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: Summer
Fruit ends: Fall

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

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “May to July” · Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition (ranked first; USDA PLANTS differs) · Carolinas and Georgia
Flower color · “White” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Fall” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Several stems” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Rapid” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 4a–7b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “About 12 feet” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Leaves · “Semi-evergreen or evergreen” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
primary_flower_color · “white” · USDA PLANTS
Soil · “Moist; Occasionally dry” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Also known as

Common Privet

Conservation status

Alabama rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
AL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source