Ligustrum vulgare
System : Terrestrial
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Plantae
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliopsida
Scrophulariales
Oleaceae
  • General
  • Distribution
  • Impact
  • Management
  • Bibliography
  • Contact
Common name
aitalikusteri (English), gewone liguster (English), golden privet (English), common privet (English), wild privet (English), European privet (English)
Synonym
Olea humilis , Salisb.
Ligustrum italicum , Mill
Similar species
Ilex glabra
Summary
Native to Europe and northern Africa, Ligustrum vulgare is a shrub that grows in sandy, loamy and clay soils. Ligustrum vulgare is a perennial shrub that has a maximum height of 4.5 metres and has many branches that flower. Ligustrum vulgare displaces native vegetation by forming dense thickets. Herbicides have been used to control Ligustrum vulgare when the plants are large but the most effective control method is to dig the plants out when they are small.
Species Description
UConn (Undated) states that Ligustrum vulgare is a medium-sized deciduous shrub that is stout and multibranched. The leaves of L. vulgare can be oval or elliptical. They range from 2.5-6.35cm (1-2.5 in) and are dark green, glossy, and waxy in appearance. The leaves have a smooth edge and grow opposite each other on the stem (PDEP, 2004). In the fall the leaves turn purple (PDEP, 2004; UConn, undated). At the end of the branches you will find white flowers in a cluster with a strong fragrance. The bark of L. vulgare is smooth and gray-brown. The height of this plant averages 4.5m (PDEP, 2004). The flowers of the shrub are white, terminal panicles. They have lengths of 2.5-7.6cm (1-3 in). The fruit produced by L. Vulgare are small, black berries. These will form in late summer and early fall (PDEP, 2004).
Notes
Ligustrum vulgare is known to attract wildlife (PFAF, 2004). Dense thickets of L. vulgare provide cover for birds (PFAF, 2004). L. vulgare provides food for many catepillars.
Lifecycle Stages
Ligustrum vulgare is a perennial shrub which means that is lives for more than two years (USDA, 2007).
Uses
Ligustrum vulgare is most commonly used as a landscape plant (PDEP, 2004) such as a hedge or border (UConn, undated). Its wood has been used to make charcoal and its young twigs have been used in basketry and hurdle making (PFAF, 2004).
Habitat Description
According to PFAF (2004), Ligustrum vulgare prefers sandy, loamy, and clay soils. The shrub tends to grow in places with some shade and others with no shade. It can live in dry or moist soils and can tolerate drought and martime exposure (PFAF, 2004).
Reproduction
The flowers are hermaphroditic (have both male and female parts) and are pollinated by insects (PFAF, 2004).

Principal source:

Compiler: National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) & IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG)

Review:

Publication date: 2007-08-03

Recommended citation: Global Invasive Species Database (2025) Species profile: Ligustrum vulgare. Downloaded from http://iucngisd.org/gisd/speciesname/Ligustrum+vulgare on 05-02-2025.

General Impacts
Richburget al (2001) states that Ligustrum vulgare displaces native vegetation by forming dense thickets.
Management Info
Physical When Ligustrum vulgare is small, dig or pull up the roots. The problem associated with this method though is the soil will be disturbed and could make it easy for another infestation. There should be no roots left in the ground.

Chemical Larger L. vulgare need to be cut and the herbicide glyphosate should be applied to the stump (PDEP, 2004).

Countries (or multi-country features) with distribution records for Ligustrum vulgare
ALIEN RANGE
NATIVE RANGE
  • europe
  • mediterranean area
  • northern africa
Informations on Ligustrum vulgare has been recorded for the following locations. Click on the name for additional informations.
Lorem Ipsum
Location Status Invasiveness Occurrence Source
Details of Ligustrum vulgare in information
Status
Invasiveness
Arrival date
Occurrence
Source
Introduction
Species notes for this location
Location note
Management notes for this location
Impact
Mechanism:
Outcome:
Ecosystem services:
Impact information
Richburget al (2001) states that Ligustrum vulgare displaces native vegetation by forming dense thickets.
Red List assessed species 0:
Management information
Physical When Ligustrum vulgare is small, dig or pull up the roots. The problem associated with this method though is the soil will be disturbed and could make it easy for another infestation. There should be no roots left in the ground.

Chemical Larger L. vulgare need to be cut and the herbicide glyphosate should be applied to the stump (PDEP, 2004).

Locations
AUSTRALIA
Management Category
Monitoring
Bibliography
13 references found for Ligustrum vulgare

Management information
Richburg, J.A., A.C. Dibble, and W.A. Patterson, III. 2001. Woody invasive species and their role in altering fire regimes of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. Pages 104�111 in K.E.M. Galley and T.P. Wilson (eds.). Proceedings of the Invasive Species Workshop: the Role of Fire in the Control and Spread of Invasive Species. Fire Conference 2000: the First National Congress on Fire Ecology, Prevention, and Management. Miscellaneous Publication No. 11, Tall Timbers Research Station, Tallahassee, FL.
Summary: This paper describes control mechanisms for multiple native and nonnative woody species. They review current management strategies while tryign to open the door for new management strategies.
Available from: http://jfsp.nifc.gov/invasive%20publications/ttrs_22pr_09_104_111_c.pdf [Accessed March 29, 2007]
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PDEP). 2004. Pennsylvania field Guide: Common Invasive Plants in Riparian Areas. 1-29.
Summary: This article gives information on the most significant invasive species in Pennsylvania.
General information
Cox, G.W. 2001. An Inventory and Analysis of the Alien Plant Flora of New Mexico. The New Mexico Botanist. 17:1-7.
Summary: This article gives information on the alien flora of New Mexico. It gives a complete list of species known to be aliens in new Mexico.
Available from: http://web.nmsu.edu/~kallred/herbweb/17pdf.pdf [Accessed March 19, 2007]
Department of Primary Industries, 2007. European Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) in Victoria. Victorian Resources Online. Government of Victoria
Summary: Gives a brief description of where Ligustrum vulgare is found in Australia.
Available from: http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/weeds_shrubs_european_privet [Accessed March 29, 2007]
Hear.org. Undated. The Global Compendium of Weeds: Ligustrum vulgare.
Summary: This website gives synonyms as well as common names and origin of a species.
Available from: http://www.hear.org/gcw/html/autogend/species/11409.HTM [Accessed March 29, 2007]
Hunter, J.C., J.A. Mattice. 2002. The Spread of Woody Exotics into the Forests of a Northeastern Landscape, 1938-1999. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society. 129(3): 220-227.
Summary: This article discusses how species spread in the northeastern United States.
Invasive and Exotic Species. 2006. Ligustrum vulgare.
Summary: This website gives a brief description of Ligustrum vulgare.
Available from: http://www.invasive.org/browse/subject.cfm?sub=3036 [Accessed March 29, 2007]
ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System), 2006. Online Database Ligustrum vulgare.
Summary: An online database that provides taxonomic information, common names, synonyms and geographical jurisdiction of a species. In addition links are provided to retrieve biological records and collection information from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) Data Portal and Bioscience from BioOne journals.
Available from: http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=163792 [Accessed March 19, 2007]
Plant Conservation Alliance (PCA). 2006. Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas. Ligustrum vulgare.
Summary: Thie website gives common names for species as well as which U.S. states they exist in and the national parks in which they reside.
Available from: http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/list/l.htm [Accessed March 29, 2007]
Plants for a Future (PFAF). 2004. Ligustrum vulgare - L.
Summary: This website gives a full description of Ligustrum vulgare.
Available from: http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Ligustrum+vulgare [Accessed March 29, 2007]
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 2007. Ligustrum vulgare.
Summary: This website gives the distribution and taxonomy of Ligustrum vulgare.
Available from: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LIVU [Accessed March 29, 2007]
University of Connecticut (UConn). Undated. Ligustrum vulgare.
Summary: This website gives detailed information on the plant s habitat, foilage, flowers and fruit.
Available from: http://www.hort.uconn.edu/Plants/l/ligvul/ligvul1.html [Accessed March 29, 2007]
University of Idaho (UIdaho). Undated. Plnat Viruses Online: Known Viruses of Oleaceae.
Summary: Gives synonyms, common names, and viruses that can harm the species.
Available from: http://image.fs.uidaho.edu/vide/famly092.htm#Ligustrum%20vulgare [Accessed March 29, 2007]
Contact
The following 0 contacts offer information an advice on Ligustrum vulgare
Ligustrum vulgare
aitalikusteri, gewone liguster, golden privet, common privet, wild privet, European privet
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Recommended citation
(2025). Ligustrum vulgare. IUCN Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT).