Wild Privet, or Ligustrum Vulgare, is the common name for the various botanical species belonging to the Ligustrum genus, which encompasses around 40-50 species of perennial, semi-perennial or deciduous shrubs and small trees. They belong to the same family as the olive tree; the oleaceae.

DISTRIBUTION: Native to Europe, North Africa, Asia, Australasia, privet is also found in China, the Himalayas, Japan and Taiwan.

INTERESTING FACT: Some species of the privet family pose a major problem in New Zealand, as they provoke asthma attacks and eczema in people with allergies.