Chinese Privet
Ligustrum sinense · Oleaceae (Olive family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, semi-evergreen
Shape
Elliptic to ovate, unlobed
Margin
Entire
Arrangement
Opposite on thin stems
Venation
Pinnate with moderately prominent midrib
Key Features
Opposite, small elliptic leaves combined with terminal panicles of immature spherical fruit.
Description
A multi-stemmed shrub or small tree growing up to twenty feet tall with smooth gray bark. Produces small white flower clusters followed by numerous spherical drupes maturing to dark purple-black.
Habitat
Thrives in moist forests, floodplains, and disturbed landscapes under varying light conditions.
Native Range
Native to China and East Asia, widely naturalized across the southeastern United States.
Notes
In Sumter South Carolina
Identified on 10/16/2026