Privet - European (Ligustrum vulgare)

European privet is a shrub or small tree with creamy white flowers. Its leaves and berries are poisonous to livestock and people.

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How does this weed affect you?

European privet is a shrub that:

• outcompetes native plants
• can reduce yields for pastures, orchards and forestry
• is poisonous to people and livestock.

Human health

Privet berries and leaves have been reported to be mildly toxic to people 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

European privet leaves and fruit are poisonous to cattle, sheep and horses. Symptoms of poisoning can include:

• regurgitation and diarrhea
• abdominal pain
• drowsiness
• weakness in the back legs
• death in severe cases.

What does it look like?

European privet is a deciduous or semi-deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub up to 5 m tall.

Leaves are:

• dark green and shiny on both sides
• narrow, wedge-shaped at the base and pointed at the tip
• 2–6 cm long and 0.8–2.5 cm wide
• hairless
• opposite along the stem.

Flowers are:

• white or cream
• tubular with 4 lobes up to 2 mm long
• strongly scented
• 3–4 mm long
• present in spring and summer.

Fruit are:

• berries, usually with 2 seeds but may have up to 4
• shiny black to blue-black when ripe (some varieties have green, white or yellow berries)
• 3–10 mm long and 5–8 mm in diameter.

Seeds are:

• flat
• 4–5 mm long.

Stems:

• have smooth grey-brown bark
• are covered in fine hairs when young
• are covered in white pores (lenticels) when older.

Similar looking plants

European privet looks like:

• Narrow-leaf privet (Ligustrum sinense), which is an evergreen shrub. It has similar sized leaves, but the midrib on the underside of the leaf is finely hairy. Sometimes the leaves have wavy edges.
• Broad-leaf privet (Ligustrum lucidum), which is an evergreen tree up to 15 m with larger leaves (4–13 cm long and 3-6 cm wide).

Where is it found?

In NSW, European privet grows in the Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Greater Sydney, Riverina and the South East region.

European privet is native to southern Europe and northern Africa. It was introduced to Australia as an ornamental or hedging plant and was used in floral arrangements.

What type of environment does it grow in?

European privet usually grows in higher altitudes. It grows best in moist fertile soils especially in riparian areas

Seedlings can grow in drier areas but tend not to form mature stands. Young plants need lots of light. Mature plants can survive in shade.

Maps and records

• Recorded presence of Privet - European 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

Seeds from European privet germinate after cold temperatures. Birds and other animals eat the fruit and spread the seeds. Seeds are also spread by flowing water.

By plant parts

European privet regenerates from roots and stems. Plants can grow from the stems in dumped floral arrangements.

References

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.

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~vulgare

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

Muyt, A. (2001). Bush invaders of South-East Australia: a guide to the identification and control of environmental weeds found in South-East Australia. R.G. and F.J. Richardson.

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

European privet seedlings may be pulled out when small and 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 on 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