Border Privet is a large shrub that is an uncommon escape from cultivation in North Carolina. Similar to the common Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense), but the corolla tube is 1.5-3x as long as the lobes, versus about the same length in sinense. The flowers are also somewhat sweet smelling, less malodorous than those of Chinese Priver. Border Privet is a much less common escape from cultivation at present.

Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.

Two varieties have been reported in NC and Virginia: var. obtusifolium and var. suave (Kitagawa) H. Hara. In the former, the leaf blades are sparsely hairy below and the tube is 2-3x as long as the lobes. In the latter, the leaf blades are glabrous and the corolla tube is 1.5-2x as long as the lobes. The photos on this page are of var. obtusifolium, which is native to Japan. Var. suave is native to northeastern China.

Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.

Note the long corolla tubes, 2-3x longer than the corolla lobes.

Grayson Co., VA 5/30/2009.