Privet (ligustrum species)

There are four species of privet

1. Tree privet (Ligustrum lucidum) flowers early to mid Summer.
2. Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) flowers in Spring
3. Privet (Ligustrurn ovalifolium)
4. Common privet (Ligustrurn vulgare).

• Pollen and scent contribute to respiratory problems.
• Leaves and dark purple berries poisonous, have caused sickness in children and stock.
• Shades out competition and produces large quantities of seed, capable of replacing canopy trees in native forests and preventing seedling growth.

Tree privet is an evergreen tree up to 10 metres tall, the leaves are glossy and dark green above and lighter green below. Flowers appear from January to March, the flowers are small cream coloured and strongly scented.  Both types of privet are evergreen, meaning they keep their leaves all year round. They have strongly scented flowers and dark purple berries. Birds eat the berries and spread the seeds. Privet tolerates a wide range of environmental conditions, for example, dry, cold and wet conditions.