Privet (Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries)

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Privet

Close up photograph of a branch, leaves and berries of the Broad leaf privet bush

Privet leaf and fruit

Closeup photograph of the deep green oval-shaped leaves and sprays of the very small white flowers of small leaf privet

Privet leaf and flower



General information

Privets are popular garden ornamentals and hedge plants native to Europe and Asia with attractive foliage and perfumed flowers.  

The costs of control imposed on the community can be substantial. The cultivation of privets as garden ornamentals should be avoided.

Of the 40-50 different species of privets native to Europe and Asia, broad leaf or tree privet (Ligustrum lucidum) and small leaf or Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) have become major problems in Queensland and are Class 3 declared plants under Queensland legislation.

Scientific name Ligustrum lucidum and Ligustrum sinense
Impacts
  • highly invasive and can become a serious problem in our natural bushland, especially in the cooler, high-rainfall areas of South East Queensland 
  • infestations can replace native vegetation and damage wildlife habitat 
Habitat and distribution
  • is spread by birds and bats eating the berries and excreting viable seed into natural bushlands 
Declaration details
  • a declared Class 3 species under the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002
  • sale or supply prohibited
  • may require removal from environmentally significant areas
Further information

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Author: Sonia Jordan
Page maintained by Sonia Jordan
Last updated 11 September 2007

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