Chinese Privet

Ligustrum sinense

Not native to Kentucky

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Kentucky.

Plant this instead

Your county

Choose your county to list local plants first.

Deerberry
Vaccinium stamineum
Similar growth form, height, spread
Smooth Azalea
Rhododendron arborescens
Similar growth form, height, spread
Maleberry
Lyonia ligustrina
Similar growth form, height, spread

More natives for your garden

Check a whole list of plants

Ligustrum sinense — bloom photograph — James H. Miller & Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, Bugwood.org · CC BY 3.0 · Original photograph · Wikimedia thumbnail; no crop or retouching

An invasive shrub that forms dense thickets and displaces other vegetation.

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

32CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including KY

Genus host records with ranges including KY · 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 32

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
Rhopobota naevanaBlackheaded Fireworm, Holly Bud Moth, Holly Tortrix
Sphinx chersisGreat Ash Sphinx
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 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

Flower color · “White” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Hardiness · “Zones 6a–9b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Height · “6.5–15 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Leaves · “Semi-evergreen or evergreen” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Life cycle · “Woody perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Light · “Dappled sunlight (shade through upper canopy all day); 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
Soil · “Dry; Moist (documented habitat)” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team) · Carolinas and Georgia
Soil pH · “Alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Spread · “10–15 feet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox

Recognizing it

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

Also known as

Chinese Privet; Privet Hedge

Conservation status

Kentucky rank	SNA
Global rank	GNR
KY status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources