Chinese Privet, Broad-leaved Privet
Ligustrum lucidum

Family: Oleaceae

What it is like

An evergreen shrub or small tree. It can be 9-25 m tall. It has glossy dark green leaves. The leaf stalk is 1-3 cm long. The leaf blade is oval and 6-17 cm long by 3-8 cm wide. They are leathery or papery. The base is rounded and it tapers to the tip. The flowers are cream and in frothy sprays. They are at the ends of branches. The flower sprays are 8-20 cm long by 8-25 cm wide. The fruit are blue-black. They are kidney shaped. They are 7-10 mm long by 4-6 mm wide.

There are about 50 Ligustrum species. The fruit is used as a tonic. It can be invasive.

Where it is found

It is a warm temperate to subtropical plant. It is native to China, Japan and Korea. They need well drained soil. In China it grows in woods below 2900 m altitude. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,400 m above sea level. It can tolerate shade. It suits hardiness zones 7-11. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Central Asia, China (country/location of origin), East Africa, Eswatini, Himalayas, Japan, Korea, Mediterranean, Nepal, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, North America, Pakistan, Southern Africa, South America, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Tibet, Uruguay, USA, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Caution: The fruit are reported to be poisonous if eaten in large amounts. They are used in medicine.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, caution

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed, cuttings or by layering.

Its other names

Local names

Chinese Glossy Privet, Large leaved Privet, Nu zhen, Soh-pah-iet, Waxleaf privet

Synonyms

Esquirolia sinensis H. Leveille; Ligustrum compactum (Wallci ex G.Don)J.D. Hooker & Thomson ex Brandis var. latifolium W.C.Cheng; Ligustrum esquirolii H.Leveille; Ligustrum lucidum var. esquirolii (H.Leveille)H.Leveille; Ligustrum lucidum f. latifolium (W.C.Cheng)P.S.Hsu; Ligustrum magnoliifolium Dippel; and others