Forestiera ligustrina - Web page Navigation - Southern Glade Privet, Upland Swampprivet Page

Explore the captivating world of Forestiera ligustrina, also known as Southern Glade Privet or Upland Swampprivet. This striking shrub, a proud member of the olive family, weaves a tale of resilience and beauty. Growing up to 9 feet tall and wide, it proudly displays its gray-green leaves throughout the summer, with their elliptical to obovate shapes being a unique attraction. Their fall beauty may be subtle, but the sight of tiny, yellowish, petal-less flowers emerging in summer is a spectacle in itself.
Upon the arrival of early fall, blue-black drupes ripeness adds another layer of complexity and fun to its appearance. You'll find this shrub in its natural habitat of upland calcareous woodlands and glades in the Southeastern United States. Impressively, it has also adapted to thrive on coastal shell middens and in woods with sandy, rocky soils.
What distinguishes Forestiera ligustrina from its closely resembling kin, Forestiera godfreyi, is its smaller leaves with less pubescent petioles and the unique twig pubescence grouped in two lines. Southern Glade Privet thrives best when planted in full sun and well-drained soil. Especially, it is a calciphile, meaning it blossoms spectacularly in lime-rich soil. Witness the late-summer blooming of its flowers and immerse yourself in the calming presence of nature with Forestiera ligustrina.