Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) is in the olive family family (Oleaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 5,745 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Chinese privet: observations by month (U.S.)
About Chinese privet
Ligustrum sinense (Chinese privet; syn. L. villosum; in Mandarin: 杻; pinyin: chǒu) is a species of privet native to China, Taiwan and Vietnam. It is also naturalized in Réunion, the Andaman Islands, Norfolk Island, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panamá and much of the eastern and southern United States (from Texas and Florida north to Kansas, Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Connecticut). Ligustrum lucidum is sometimes also called "Chinese privet".From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Chinese privet by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 2,257 | April | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 616 | May | Apr–May |
| Georgia | 539 | May | Apr–May |
| Alabama | 452 | April | Apr–May |
| Tennessee | 386 | May | May–May |
| Virginia | 272 | May | May–May |
| Louisiana | 239 | April | Apr–Apr |
| South Carolina | 222 | April | Apr–May |
| Mississippi | 205 | April | Apr–May |
| Arkansas | 164 | May | May–May |
| Oklahoma | 135 | May | May–May |
| Florida | 117 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Maryland | 58 | May | May–Jun |
| Kentucky | 42 | May | May–May |
| Missouri | 18 | May | May–May |
| New Jersey | 7 | June | Jun–Jun |
| West Virginia | 5 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (olive family)
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Chinese privet?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Chinese privet most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, North Carolina, Georgia.