Privet • Ligustrum vulgare
Trees & Shrubs
Conditions: Allergic rhinitis; allergic asthma; allergic conjunctivitis.
Symptoms: Itchy, stuffy, or runny nose; post-nasal drip; sneezing; itchy, red or watery eyes; asthmatic symptoms.
Physical description: Deciduous shrub; grows between 10-16 feet in height; smooth gray-brown bark; dark-green leaves, small white flowers, small, blackish fruit.
Environmental factors: Found in woodlands, sunny edges, roadsides, fence rows, and riparian sites; very invasive species; can tolerate a wide range of conditions.
Cross-reactivity: Grass pollen from the Poaceae family
Pollination Area
Included species: Border privet, Chinese privet, California privet, glossy privet, Japanese privet
References
- “Privet.”Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/privet
- “European Privet.” United States Department of Agriculture. https://plants.usda.gov/java/charProfile?symbol=LIVU
- “Privet.”Pollen.com. https://www.pollen.com/research/genus/ligustrum
Did You Know?
Privet has been used in basketry, to make ink and dye, and for charcoal. A yellow dye is obtained from the leaves and a bluish-green to black dye from the berries.
