Ligustrum ovalifolium Hance, Oleaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Other Latin names:  Ligustrum medium Franch. & Sav.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: California privet, garden privet

French: troène des haies, troène du Japon

Japanese: ōba-ibota

Spanish: aligustre japonés, ligustrino

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Upright shrub to c. 5 m high, glabrous except for inflorescence, evergreen except in coldest areas. Shoots glabrous. Petioles < 5 mm long. Lamina 3-7-(9) x 1.5-4 cm, ovate to elliptic, shining above; base cuneate; apex obtuse or acute, often mucronate. Panicles to c. 15 x 10 cm, dense, broad-pyramidal; branches ± puberulent, ridged; pedicels short. Flowers very fragrant. Bracts ovate or lanceolate; bracteoles 2, ± ovate, persisting after flowering. Calyx 1.5-2 mm long, glabrous, truncate or very shallowly lobed. Corolla white; tube 4.5-6 mm long; lobes 2-2.5 mm long, elliptic-ovate, acute, reflexed. Stamens exserted, = or slightly < length of corolla lobes; anthers yellow. Style included, 1/2-3/4 length of corolla tube. Fruit 5-7 mm in diameter, subglobose, purplish black. Seed c. 4 mm long, ± ellipsoid, ribbed on back"  (Webb et al., 1988; p. 879).

Habitat/ecology:  In New Zealand, "forest remnant margins, roadside banks, and waste places"  (Webb et al., 1988; p. 879).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  Japan (Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku), South Korea; cultivated elsewhere (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive cultivated	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (pp. 489, 535, 555) Voucher cited: Danton H(1562)1324. "En RC, es plantado en setos y en algunos jardines del pueblo de San Juan Bautista.  Algunos ejemplares se encuentran asilvestrados".
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island		Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.) (1941) (voucher ID: BISH 586761) Taxon name on voucher: Ligustrum ovalifolium Hance
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island		Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.) (1960) (voucher ID: BISH 10159) Taxon name on voucher: Ligustrum ovalifolium Hance

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Japan Japan	Japan	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku
South Korea South Korea	South Korea (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 879)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
La Réunion (France) La Réunion Island	La Réunion Island	introduced invasive	Comité français de l'Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature en France (2013) envahissant

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Canada Canada	Canada	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013) Ontario
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Ligustrum ovalifolium, please let us know.