Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Waxy-leaf Privet (Ligustrum quihoui)

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Waxy-leaf Privet (Ligustrum quihoui)

Waxy-leaf Privet is a large shrub or small tree from China that is a rare escape from cultivation in North Carolina. However, this is likely just because it is rarely planted. Where planted it seems to be highly invasive, capable of dominating the forest understory.

Similar to the common Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense), which also has small, opposite, evergreen leaves, but the leaf blades are narrower and usually broadest at or above the middle. The branching pattern and leaf arrangement is distinctive, very orderly, though I'm not sure quite how to describe it. Compare also with Scarlet Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea) and Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria), which are superficially similar, but have toothed, alternate leaves.

Granville Co., NC 5/8/2012.

Waxy-leaf Privet (Ligustrum quihoui)

Showing the distinctive leaf arrangement.

Granville Co., NC 5/8/2012.

Waxy-leaf Privet (Ligustrum quihoui)

Granville Co., NC 5/8/2012.

Waxy-leaf Privet (Ligustrum quihoui)

Granville Co., NC 5/8/2012.

Waxy-leaf Privet (Ligustrum quihoui)

Elongating inflorescence.

Granville Co., NC 5/8/2012.

Waxy-leaf Privet (Ligustrum quihoui)

Elongating inflorescence.

Granville Co., NC 5/8/2012.

Waxy-leaf Privet (Ligustrum quihoui)

Flowers are small and white, like those of other privets.

Granville Co., NC 5/8/2012.

Waxy-leaf Privet (Ligustrum quihoui)

Dried fruits from the previous growing season.

Granville Co., NC 5/8/2012.

Waxy-leaf Privet (Ligustrum quihoui)

Young sprouts on the forest floor.

Granville Co., NC 5/8/2012.

Waxy-leaf Privet (Ligustrum quihoui)

The bark is similar to that of other privets, smooth pale gray with warty lenticels.

Granville Co., NC 5/8/2012.

Waxy-leaf Privet (Ligustrum quihoui)

Granville Co., NC 5/8/2012.

Waxy-leaf Privet (Ligustrum quihoui)

This is an example of the extreme invasiveness of this privet. Here the large multi-trunked plant in the middle and every single green leaf you can see is Waxy-leaf Privet. It completely covers the forest floor in this rare plant area, preventing anything else from growing.

Granville Co., NC 5/8/2012.

More information:
Invasive Plant Atlas
Flora of China
Texas Invasives

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