Appearance
The plant flowers in midsummer, the abundant white blooms producing a unique pungent fragrance, unpleasant to some. They are borne in panicles. They have four curled-back petals and two high stamens with yellow or red anthers, between which is the low pistil; the petals and stamens fall off after the flower is fertilized, leaving the pistil in the calyx tube. Flowering starts after 330 growing degree days. The fruits, borne in clusters, are small purple to black drupes, poisonous for humans but readily eaten by many birds. In favorable growing conditions, individual shrubs may produce thousands of fruits.
Naming
It is sometimes known as Japanese privet, but is not to be confused with ''Ligustrum japonicum'' which may also be called by this common name.''L. ovalifolium'' is the species familiar in the United Kingdom as the most common hedging plant in cultivation.
Status
''L. ovalifolium'' has been listed as an invasive species in parts of the United States.Predators
Privet is used as a food plant by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Common emerald, Common marbled carpet, Copper underwing, The Engrailed, Mottled beauty, Scalloped hazel, Small angle shades, The V-pug and Willow beauty.References:
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