Ligustrum lucidum

Species

Tree privet (Ligustrum lucidum) is a long-lived, evergreen tree that is native to China, Korea and Japan. It was introduced to New Zealand as a garden ornamental and was first recorded in the wild (naturalised) in 1958. The tree grows up to about 10 metres tall and has dark green, glossy leaves and large clusters of strongly fragrant, creamy white flowers. It flowers from November to March, which develop into bluish-black berries. It tolerates shade, frost, wind, salt, damp and dry conditions, and damage or grazing. It reproduces by seed and vegetatively by resprouting after physical damage. Seeds are dispersed by birds. The pollen can trigger asthma and respiratory irritation in some people, and the berries are poisonous.

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