This plant is problematic, and alternatives should be considered. Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column. Japanese privet is a large evergreen shrub or small tree in the olive family (Oleaceae) and native to eastern Asia. The species epithet references Japan, where the species first came to the attention of Swedish botanist Carl Peter Thunberg. It grows rapidly up to 12 feet tall and 6 feet wide in sun to partial shade. It is dense and upright, drought and salt spray tolerant, and grows in a range of soil conditions (except constantly wet). Japanese privet is weedy in disturbed areas around buildings and has escaped and naturalized in moist areas. Japanese privet flowers in late spring with four-parted flowers that attract a wide array of insects. However, the flowers have an odor that is offensive to many people. It has dark green foliage and is frequently planted around buildings and pruned to a "giant meatball" shape or small tree. When pruning, keep in mind that next year's blossoms will appear on new growth. Quick ID Hints: Leaves are opposite, evergreen, entire, and coriaceous. 4 to 5 pairs of lateral veins are raised under leaves. Twigs are profusely dotted with large gray lenticels. Listed as invasive in North Carolina by: Invasive Plant Atlas of the MidSouth. Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States . North Carolina Forest Service. North Carolina Invasive Plant Council . North Carolina Native Plant Society , "Significant Threat" Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Whiteflies, Japanese and ligustrum weevils, white peach scale and privet rust mites are common insect problems. Anthracnose, twig blight, cankers, powdery mildew and root rot are common disease problems. Susceptible to copper deficiency. Invasive. See native or less problematic suggestions to the left.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in. | Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Oval
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Oblong; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are opposite, simple, broad-ovate to ovate-oblong, entire, coriaceous, glabrous, and dark green in color. They have 4 or 5 pairs of indistinct raised veins on the undersurface and grow 2- to 4-inches long.
Flower color
White
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Cross; Trumpet
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Creamy white, fetid flowers on 2- to 6-inch terminal pyramidal panicles in late spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Blue
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Fruits are flat, berry-like drupes that are 0.2 inches long and start green and ripen to blue-black.
Stem color
Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Twigs are smooth, gray, and covered with large lenticels.