Ligustrum lucidum
Chinese privet, Chinese Privet
(c) Juan Carlos Fonseca Mata, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Oleaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Ligustrum lucidum (Chinese privet) is a non-native California shrub / tree in the Oleaceae family, recognized by size, leaf dimensions, and distribution.
Chinese privet is a naturalized shrub found in coastal northern California, Sacramento Valley, southern coastal California, and San Bernardino Mountains in riparian zones at elevations below 1,100 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces white flowers in elongated clusters 10 to 20 centimeters long. Growing as a shrub or small tree up to 10 meters tall with multiple stems, it develops a dense branching structure. Its leaves are widely ovate, 6 to 10 centimeters long with petioles 10 to 20 millimeters, featuring bases that range from slightly pointed to rounded and tips that are sharply acute. The shrub develops distinctive flower clusters with corolla tubes approximately equal in length to their lobes, creating a delicate and intricate flowering appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; key features are size, leaf dimensions, and distribution
Habitat and range
Habitat: Riparian zones
Elevation: < 1100 m
Outside California: native to China, Japan, Korea
Bloom period
Ligustrum lucidum blooms Jun-Sep.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Sambucus: Ligustrum has simple leaves; Sambucus has compound leaves divided into leaflets.; vs Ficus: Ligustrum has tubular flowers in terminal clusters; Ficus flowers hidden inside fig fruits.; vs Prunus: Ligustrum flowers are tubular with fused petals; Prunus flowers have five separate petals.; vs Lagerstroemia: Ligustrum has simple opposite leaves; Lagerstroemia leaves often appear whorled with crinkled petals.; vs Trachelospermum: Ligustrum is an upright shrub; Trachelospermum is a twining vine.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ligustrum lucidum native to California?
No. Ligustrum lucidum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Ligustrum lucidum bloom?
Ligustrum lucidum blooms Jun-Sep.
What plant family does Ligustrum lucidum belong to?
Ligustrum lucidum is in the Oleaceae family, genus Ligustrum.
Is Ligustrum lucidum invasive in California?
Ligustrum lucidum is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Ligustrum lucidum grow in?
Ligustrum lucidum grows in Riparian zones.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.