Suggested Native Replacements:
- Arrow-wood, Arrow-wood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)
- Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
- Black haw, Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium)
- Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
- Fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica)
- Gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa)
- Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)
- Southern wild raisin, Possum-haw (Viburnum nudum)
- Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
- Wax myrtle, Southern bayberry (Morella cerifera)
- Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
Common Name
Japanese privet
Wax-leaf privet
Plant Form
Shrubs & Small Trees
Considered Invasive by the State of Virginia?
No
Threat Level
Not Applicable
Additional Info
Notes: Privets were used extensively for privacy hedging before their invasive characteristics were discovered. Now they disrupt native plant communities in the understory of forests throughout the southeastern U. S., including Virginia. Both Arlington County and Alexandria list these species as invasive.
Method of removal: Cut and paint
Attention! Resprouts
Native Look-alikes
iNaturalist Research-grade Observations