Quercus

Japanese Privet

Ligustrum japonicum

Not native to Georgia

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Georgia.

Plant this instead

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  • Maleberry
    Lyonia ligustrina

    Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous

    Different: bloom season

  • Aloe Yucca
    Yucca aloifolia

    Similar height, spread, evergreen or deciduous

  • Inkberry
    Ilex glabra

    Similar growth form, height, spread

    Different: bloom season

More natives for your garden

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Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

30CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including GA

Genus host records with ranges including GA · 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 30
  • 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
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 7a–10b
Soil pH
Alkaline
Flower color
White
Growth rate
Rapid
Growth habit
Several stems
Foliage color
Dark 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
Also known as

Japanese Privet

Conservation status

Georgia rankNot available
Global rankGNR
GA statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources