Ligustrum japonicum

Japanese privet

Family: Oleaceae · Type: shrub · Not Native

Japanese privet is a naturalized shrub found in southern California coastal areas on canyon slopes at elevations below 45 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces white flowers in clusters with corolla tubes slightly longer than its lobes. Growing up to 3 meters tall with multiple stems, it develops a spreading, dense form characteristic of ornamental shrubs. Its leaves are ovate-elliptic to obovate, 5 to 8 centimeters long with a pointed tip and a base that ranges from acute to rounded. The plant produces small anthers approximately 1 to 2 millimeters long with slightly obtuse tips.

Habitat: Canyon slopes

Bloom period: May-Sep

Elevation: < 45 m

Bioregions: SCo

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.