Is Chinese privet poisonous?
Both the foliage and fruit of Chinese privet are reportedly poisonous to humans and livestock, but the toxic principle is not definitely known. The leaves and berries of privet are considered poisonous to humans and most animals though it is a common hedging plant found in many private and public garden settings. Even though it’s widely used, it is a mildly poisonous plant and may not be the safest choice to use around children, pets, and livestock.How Fast Do Privets Grow? Privets are fast growing evergreen shrubs. Japanese Privet can easily grow over 2 feet per year with no care. Even smaller types, like the dwarf Sunshine Ligustrum, can put on up to a foot of height in a growing season.If the privet does become overgrown, you can also cut it back radically. Ideally, do this in early spring, because birds like to nest in the branches of the hedge during summer. Too late in the year, heavy pruning will weaken the plant before winter.Its strong scented flowers are an irritant or allergen to some people. Tree privet is evergreen, tall (to 15+ metres), fast growing and long-lived, becoming a persistent canopy tree that can displace native species and eventually dominate areas of shrubland and forest.
Why is Chinese privet invasive?
According to the USDA, Chinese privet is one of the worst invasive plants in the South. Ligustrum sinense can cause large-scale ecosystem modification due to its ability to compete with and displace native vegetation. In addition to the privet’s impact on natural landscapes, it can be directly harmful to humans. All introduced species of Ligustrum produce fruit toxic to humans that cause such symptoms as nausea, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and low blood pressure and body temperature.Privet berries and leaves have been reported to be mildly toxic to humans if ingested in large amounts.
What can Chinese privet be used for?
Medicinal Uses Chinese privet has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 1,000 years[238]. The fruit is antibacterial, antiseptic, antitumour, cardiotonic, diuretic and tonic[147, 176, 178, 238]. Even though it’s widely used, it is a mildly poisonous plant and may not be the safest choice to use around children, pets, and livestock. The leaves and berries of Privet contain terpenoid glycosides, which can cause extreme irritation to the hands and mouth, and digestive distress.Yes, people can be allergic to privet. Exposure to privet, particularly its pollen, can trigger allergic reactions which include symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, and skin rashes. It is most problematic when it blooms in late spring and early summer. Why Is Privet Allergy a Concern?