Ligustrum spp.

Ligustrum spp. is toxic to cats, dogs and horses. The reported severity is critical. Also known as Privets, Chinese Privet and Tree Privet.

dogs cats horses

Mild Moderate Severe Critical

This plant is known to be potentially deadly!

  • If you're comfortable with the risk, ensure this plant is out of reach of your animal.
  • If you suspect your animal has ingested portions of this plant, immediately consult your veterinarian.
  • If your animal is experiencing any of the associated symptoms, immediately contact your veterinarian's emergency number for further instructions.

If your animal ate this plant, call your veterinarian, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control on (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline on (855) 764-7661. Fees may apply.

Symptoms to watch for

Drooling Abdominal Pain Diarrhea Colic Depression Incoordination High Heart Rate Death

The color of each symptom follows the severity scale above.

About

A privet is a flowering plant in the genus Ligustrum. The genus contains about 50 species of erect, deciduous or evergreen shrubs or trees, with a native distribution from Europe to tropical and subtropical Asia, and with one species each native to Australia and north Africa. Some species have become widely naturalized or invasive where introduced. Privet was originally the name for the European semi-evergreen shrub Ligustrum vulgare, and later also for the more reliably evergreen Ligustrum ovalifolium and its hybrid Ligustrum × ibolium used extensively for privacy hedging, though now the name is applied to all members of the genus. The generic name was applied by Pliny the Elder to L. vulgare. It is often suggested that the name privet is related to private, but the Oxford English Dictionary states that there is no evidence to support this.

Common Names

  • Privets
  • Chinese Privet
  • Tree Privet
  • Common Privet
  • Border Privet
  • Wax-Leaf Ligustrum
  • Quihoui Privet
  • Garden Privet
  • Scots Lovage
  • Gray's Lovage
  • Mexican Primrose-Willow
  • Osha
  • Japanese Tree Lilac
  • Hangehange
  • He-Huckleberry
  • Celery Leaf Lovage
  • American Lovage
  • Boxleaf Honeysuckle
  • Chilean Potato Vine
  • Hairy Chervil
  • Canby's Wild Lovage
  • Hangehange
  • Gulf Sebastian-Bush
  • Fernleaf Licorice-Root

Also recorded as Privet.

Facts

Family
Oleaceae
Duration
Perennial
Growth habit
Shrub, Tree
In the wild
FR, GB, US, DE, AU, CH + more
Source
Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Elsewhere

Countries with the most wild observations, from GBIF data.