Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense aka Ligustrum villosum) is also known as Hedge Privet. It is a non-native invasive shrub to 10 ft tall with pubescent twigs. The leaves are opposite, simple, and entire with pinnate major veins. An important characteristic is the opposite leaves and if the leaves are opposite, the branches are also opposite. The leaves are tardily deciduous and the blades oval to elliptic, 0.5-2" long, 0.3-0.75" wide, and light green on lower surface. The flowers are white and the fruit is an oblong dark blue to black drupe. Once widely cultivated and escaping and forming dense thickets; this species is considered by some to be the most invasive species in the area. Under the commercial name "white wax wood", is a prized material for spears and darts among Chinese martial artists. It has also been held in high esteem as an arrow wood by archers in
North America, because its shoots are often quite straight, the wood is very flexible, springy and tough, and in many states abundant. Every time I see one on Allen Acres, I pull it up but some have escaped my spotting so I find some large ones that require a saw or shovel or both. More than 20 species of moths are reported to eat the genus Ligustrum including regal, cecropia, Io, imperial and a number of sphinx. Flower pictures by Brittanie Hughes. Sometimes confused with yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) and a picture of stems of the two plants is included. Reported from 58 parishes but probably in all 64.