Privet - broad-leaf (Ligustrum lucidum)

Broad-leaf privet is an evergreen shrub or tree with clusters of fragrant flowers and black fruit, which are poisonous to people. It outcompetes native plants and reduces yields in orchards, pastures and plantations.

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How does this weed affect you?

Broad-leaf privet is a fast-growing tree that:

• outcompetes native plants
• reduces food and habitat for native animals
• reduces yields in orchards, pastures and plantation forests and is expensive to control
• can restrict access to waterways
• is poisonous and can cause skin irritation and respiratory issues in people
• is poisonous to livestock.

Broad-leaf privet is a threat to three Endangered Ecological Communities in NSW:

• Illawarra Subtropical Rainforest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion
• River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the New South Wales North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions
• Subtropical Coastal Floodplain Forest of the New South Wales North Coast Bioregion.

Human health

Privet berries and leaves have been reported to be mildly toxic to humans if ingested in large amounts. No known cases of poisoning have occurred in Australia. Privets can cause the following health problems:

• eating the berries may cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
• contact with the leaves or berries can cause skin or eye irritation
• cross-reactivity can occur where people who are sensitive to grass pollen become sensitive to privet, producing allergic reactions
• .the flower perfume may cause respiratory irritation.

What to do if a person is poisoned:

• If the patient is unconscious, unresponsive or having difficulty breathing dial 000 or get to the emergency section of a hospital immediately.
• If the patient is conscious and responsive call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 or your doctor.

Livestock poisoning

Privet berries and leaves have been reported to be mildly toxic to livestock if ingested in large amounts. No known cases of livestock poisoning have occurred in Australia. 

What does it look like?

Broad-leaf privet is an evergreen shrub or tree with a single trunk and many branches that form a rounded canopy. They usually grows 4-10 m tall, though maybe up to 15 m when cultivated. 

Leaves are:

• dark green and glossy on top
• pale green with prominent veins underneath
• oval-shaped with a pointed tip
• 4–13 cm long and 3–6 cm wide
• hairless
• opposite along the stem.

Flowers are:

• cream or white
• up to 6 mm in diameter
• tubular at the base with 4 petal-like lobes that curl backwards
• sickly sweet smelling
• in clusters
• present from spring to summer.

Fruit are:

• soft berries with one or two seeds
• green when young, turning red then blue and glossy or purplish black as they ripen
• 9 mm long and 12 mm in diameter
• in bunches on short stalks.

Seeds are:

• oval shaped and ribbed
• 5 mm long.

Roots are:

• woody
• branching
• shallow
• thicker at the crown.

Bark

The brown bark is covered in prominent, small, white pores (lenticels).

Similar looking plants

Broad-leaf privet looks similar to:

• Narrow-leaf privet (Ligustrum sinense), which is shorter, (up to 3 m) and has smaller leaves (up to 5 cm long and 2.5 cm wide).
• European privet (Ligustrum vulgare), which is a deciduous shrub with smaller leaves (up to 6 cm long and 2 cm wide).

Where is it found?

In NSW, broad-leaf privet is widespread and grows in all regions except for the Western region. Most plants are in the coastal and tableland regions from the Queensland to Victorian borders.

Broad-leaf privet is native to eastern Asia, it was introduced to Australia as an ornamental plant.

What type of environment does it grow in?

Broad-leaf privets grow best in warm, humid areas with rainfall between 700 - 1600 mm/yr. Plants may lose their leaves in dry regions. Seedlings can tolerate very dense shade, but older plants require more light. Plants grow faster in full sunlight. Plants can grow in a range of soil types including sand, friable loams, and almost pure clays. However, they grow best in fertile shale or clay-derived soils found in riparian areas and grow well on disturbed sites.

Broad-leaf privet grows in:

• riparian areas including along creeks, gullies and drainage lines 
• rainforests
• eucalyptus forests and woodlands
• grasslands and pastures
• orchards and plantations.

Maps and records

• Recorded presence of Privet - broad-leaf during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2026)
  These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Officers record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Records reflect the presence of the weed on the date of inspection.
  
  

How does it spread?

By seed

Plants start producing seeds at four years or older. Seed production is much higher for trees in full sunlight and moist soil. Older mature trees (decades old) may produce up to 10 000 000 seeds per year. Most of the seeds are spread by birds that eat the fruit. Birds such as pied currawongs, silvereyes and rosellas can spread the seed widely into previously uninfested areas. Seeds are also spread by rabbits, flowing water and people dumping garden waste.

By plant parts

Broad-leaf privet can regenerate from roots and stems. These can be spread by people dumping garden waste.

References

Coutts-Smith, A.J. and Downey, P.O. (2006). Impact of weeds on threatened biodiversity in New South Wales. Technical Series no. 11, CRC for Australian Weed Management, Adelaide.

Johnson, S. (2009), Review of the declaration of Ligustrum (privet) species in NSW, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange.

Johnson, S. B. (2009), ‘Privet species – are we sitting on species time bombs?’, in Proceedings of the 15th Biennial NSW Weeds Conference, Narrabri, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange.

McKenzie, R. (2012). Australia's poisonous plants, fungi and cyanobacteria: a guide to species of medical and veterinary importance. CSIRO.

Panetta, F. D. (2000). Fates of fruits and seeds of Ligustrum lucidum WT Ait. and L. sinense Lour. maintained under natural rainfall or irrigation. Australian Journal of Botany, 48(6), 701-706.

PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 9 January 2025 from https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Ligustrum~lucidum

Swarbrick, J. T., Timmins, S. M., & Bullen, K. M. (1999). The biology of Australian weeds. 36. Ligustrum lucidum Aiton and Ligustrum sinense Lour. In The Biology of Australian Weeds Vol 3. Ed. F.D. Panetta.

More information

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Control

Successful weed control requires follow up after the initial efforts. This means looking for and killing regrowth or new seedlings. Using a combination of control methods is usually more successful.

Controlling spread

Early detection and removal

Remove seedlings and young trees before they produce seed.

Reducing nutrient levels

Increased nutrient levels often contribute to the presence of privet infestations. Reducing or stopping the movement of nutrients in water from residential or industrial areas into riparian areas may help prevent establishment of large privet infestations.

Physical removal

Privet can re-establish from seeds or plant parts after physical removal. To limit reinfestation:

• minimise soil disturbance where possible
• revegetate bare areas with suitable species
• check for and treat new plants.

By hand

Broad-leaf privet is easy to pull up when it has a stem diameter of less than 2–3 cm, particularly after rain. Larger plants may be dug out.

By machine

Earth-moving machinery can be used to remove dense stands of privet if high levels of soil disturbance can be tolerated. Mechanical removal is not recommended in steep areas or near waterways. 

Large areas of seedlings or regrowth can be slashed. These methods will reduce the numbers of seeds produced but will not eradicate the privet. Revegetate treated areas and follow up by checking and treating seedlings or regrowth.

Chemical control

Spot spraying

Spray actively growing plants up to 3 m tall. Cover all the foliage evenly.

Splatter gun

Spray actively growing plants up to 3 m tall. Splatter-guns use small amounts of concentrated herbicide. They spray large droplets that limit spray drift. They are useful for very dense infestations of weeds that are difficult to reach.

Basal barking

Paint or spray herbicide mixed with diesel to the trunk. Cover all the way around the trunk from the ground to the height specified on the label.

Cut stump method

Cut trunks and apply herbicide to the stump within 15 seconds of cutting. The cut-stump method is effective on young plants, suckers, and regrowth.

Stem injection

Stem injection is useful for weeds close to desirable plants to prevent accidental damage.

Liquid herbicide - Drill holes or make cuts into the sapwood all the way around the trunk. Fill the cuts or holes with herbicide within 15 seconds.

Capsule herbicide - Measure the circumference of the plant to determine the number of capsules required. Drill the hole, insert the capsule and then plug the hole.

Herbicide options

See Using herbicides for more information.

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Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: Undiluted (1–2 mL per cut)
Comments: Stem injection. Apply 1 mL/cut for trees with trunk diameter 25 cm or less at the base. Apply 2 mL/cut for trees with trunk diameter over 25 cm and up to 60 cm at the base,
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Glyphosate 700 g/kg (Di-Bak G)
Rate: 1 capsule for every 10 cm of circumference (minimum of 2 capsules per tree)
Comments: Capsule herbicide: See critical comments on the label for details on how to apply and seal the capsule in the tree trunk.
Withholding period: Do not allow stock to graze surrounding the treated areas until complete browning of treated tree has occurred.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Metsulfuron-methyl 300 g/kg + Aminopyralid 375 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 20 g per 100 L of water plus non-ionic surfactant 100 mL/ 100 L of water
Comments: Handgun application. Apply to bushes up to 3 m high. Complete foliar spray coverage is essential for control.
Withholding period: Pastures - Grazing for meat production or cutting for animal feed: Do not graze for 56 days after application. See label for further details
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors) + 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: High/Moderate

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Metsulfuron-methyl 300 g/kg + Aminopyralid 375 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 20 g per 10 L of water plus organosilicon penetrant 20 mL per 10 L of water.
Comments: Low volume gas gun. Apply to bushes up to 3 m tall. Complete coverage is essential.
Withholding period: Pastures - Grazing for meat production or cutting for animal feed: Do not graze for 56 days after application. See label for further details
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors) + 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: High/Moderate

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Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 10 g per 100 L of water plus non-ionic surfactant 100 mL/ 100 L of water
Comments: Apply to bushes up to 3 m high; complete coverage is essential.
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High

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Metsulfuron-methyl 600 g/kg (Various products)
Rate: 1 g per litre of water + organosilicone penetrant (10 mL/5L)
Comments: Gas gun / Splatter gun application. Apply only to bushes up to 3 m high when in full leaf and actively growing. Thorough coverage is essential.
Withholding period: Nil (recommended not to graze for 7 days before treatment and for 7 days after treatment to allow adequate chemical uptake in target weeds).
Herbicide group: 2 (previously group B), Inhibition of acetolactate and/or acetohydroxyacid synthase (ALS, AHAS inhibitors)
Resistance risk: High

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Picloram 44.7 g/L + Aminopyralid 4.47 g/L (Vigilant II ®)
Rate: Undiluted
Comments: Cut stump for small plants: Apply a 3–5 mm layer of gel onto stems less than 2 cm diameter. Apply 5 mm layer on stems above 2 cm diameter. Stem inject trees: Make evenly spaced cuts 1.5-2 cm deep around the trunk. Apply a 5 mm layer of gel over the lower surface of the cut.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Triclopyr 240 g/L + Picloram 120 g/L (Access™ )
Rate: 1.0 L per 30 L of diesel
Comments: Basal bark/cut stump application.
Withholding period: Nil
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Triclopyr 600 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 1.0 L per 12 L of diesel
Comments: Basal bark application for stems up to 10 cm diameter at the base. Cut stump application for plants with stems up to and greater than 10 cm diameter at the base. Treat any time of the year.
Withholding period: Not required when used as directed.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.

Area	Duty
All of NSW	General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Central Tablelands Contain recorded populations across the Central Tablelands region. Excludes urban areas across the region except for Orange City Council. Orange City Council has a local privet management plan to control privet in the urban areas.	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Containment) Whole of region: Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value. Duty does not apply for urban areas in the Central Tablelands region other than Orange City Council.
	*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here

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Reviewed 2025