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Glossy Privet

Ligustrum lucidum

In the Carolinas and Georgia, found in disturbed places. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you

-85
Severe harm

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

Profile 76%

Height
15–50 feet
Spread
8–15 feet
Light
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Dry to moist
See native alternatives

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Louisiana.

Plant this instead

Choose your county to list local plants first.

  • Carolina Laurel Cherry
    Prunus caroliniana

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to wet. Flowers: White.

    Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous

    Different: bloom season

  • American Holly
    Ilex opaca

    Sun: Full to part sun. Soil: Average. Flowers: Yellow.

    Similar growth form, height, spread

  • Dahoon Holly
    Ilex cassine

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Moist to standing water. Flowers: Yellow or white.

    Similar growth form, height, spread

Refine these alternatives in the finder

Check a whole list of plants

At a glance

Life cycle
Woody perennial
Leaves
Evergreen
Bloom
June to September

Recorded in 30 Louisiana parishes.

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

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

32CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including LA

Genus host records with ranges including LA · 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
  • Sphinx franckiiFranck's Sphinx
  • Sphinx kalmiaeFawn Sphinx, Laurel Sphinx
  • Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
  • Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
  • Astala confederata
  • Automeris louisiana
  • Philtraea monillata
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

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

Growing sources and scope

Conservation status

Louisiana rankSNA
Global rankG5
LA statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources