Practical information to identify and manage non-native, invasive plants
The Quiet Invasion:A Guide to Invasive Plants of the Galveston Bay Area
Ligustrum japonicum
| USDA Symbol: | LIJA |
| ITIS TSN: | 503449 |
| Presence: | Current Invaders |
| Habitat: | Terrestrial |
| Native Range: | China, Korea, Japan |
Toxic Characteristics
Possibly toxic to livestock.Geographic Distribution
Common in all Gulf Coast states north to Tennessee, Virginia, and Maryland. Naturalized populations are present in southeast Texas.Introduction Pathways
Introduced to the United States in early 1800s, and widely cultivated as an ornamental beginning in 1945. Continues to be a popular ornamental sold in nurseries.Specific Primary Habitats
Tolerates a wide range of moist, but not inundated soils. Thrives in full sun or partial shade. Prefers disturbed areas such as roadsides, or forest edges. Prefers lowland areas and floodplains.Identifying Characteristics
Grows as a shrub to a small tree. Stems and bark are gray-brown and smooth. Leaves are oval, glossy, opposite, and 1.5 - 4 inches long. New leaves are light green, while mature leaves are a darker green. Fragrant flowers are white and abundant in clusters at the end of branches. Fruit are in clusters of blue-black berries and contain 1-4 seeds per berry.Reproduction Characteristics
Seeds are readily dispersed by animals, especially birds. Flowers April to June, and fruit appears in late summer, ripening in the fall. Will also sprout from disturbed roots or cut stumps.Growth Characteristics
Growing at 25 inches/year or faster, Japanese privet can reach 20 feet in height. When uninhibited, its crown may grow up to 25 feet in diameter.Ecological, Economic, or Social Impact
Japanese privet can potentially form dense thickets, outcompeting native forbs and bushes.Suggested Control Methods
Foliar application: Arsenal AC or Garlon 4 as a 1% or 3% water solution, respectively, are recommended for mid-late summer, and a 3% solution of glyphosate herbicide is recommended for early summer. Treat cut stumps with 10% Arsenal AC or Velpar L.|
Native Species Alternatives
Below is a list of alternative plants that are native to the area:
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Lists
This species belongs to the following lists:
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Images
To view a larger version of an image, click on the thumbnail. Flowers of Japanese privet. Photo courtesy of James Manhart, Texas A&M University Herbarium, Digital Flora of Texas Vascular Plant Image Library, www.csdl.tamu.edu |
 Opposite leaves of Japanese privet. Photo courtesy of James Manhart, Texas A&M University Herbarium, Digital Flora of Texas Vascular Plant Image Library, www.csdl.tamu.edu |
 The Japanese privet flowering in early summer. Photo courtesy of James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, www.forestryimages.org; Image Number 0016066. |
 Stems and shoots of the Japanese privet in late summer. Photo courtesy of James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, www.forestryimages.org; Image Number 0016068. |
 Comparison of the Japanese privet (left) to the Chinese privet (right). Photo courtesy of Ted Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, www.forestryimages.org; Image Number 0016069. |
 Bark of the Japanese privet in early summer. Photo courtesy of James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, www.forestryimages.org; Image Number 0016070. |
 Mature fruit of the Japanese privet in winter. Photo courtesy of James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, www.forestryimages.org; Image Number 0016071. |
 Terminal stem, foliage, and flower buds of the Japanese privet. Photo courtesy of James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, www.forestryimages.org; Image Number 2307085. |
 Flowers of the Japanese privet. Photo courtesy of J. Scott Peterson, USDA NRCS, www.forestryimages.org; Image Number 2308073. |