# Help with tree identification, please. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 25, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-tree-identification-please/723453 "2015-06-25T17:47:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-tree-identification-please/723453/1 "2015-06-25T17:47:37Z")
I can guarantee this is not homework. Does anyone know, offhand, what kind of tree [this tree is?](http://s394.photobucket.com/user/PWHardy/library/?view=recent#/user/PWHardy/library/?view=recent&page=1&_suid=1435253694178007083754316991098) I’ve tried using online identification keys and they have let me down badly. It’s located in California, but is a landscaping tree. Thanks for any guesses. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-tree-identification-please/723453/2 "2015-06-25T18:05:05Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > Thanks for any guesses. This is purely a guess: Could it be an [avocado tree](https://www.google.com/search?q=avocado+tree+flowers&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS602US602&espv=2&biw=1600&bih=799&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=V0KMVbvxBsevogSnnp7QCw&ved=0CB0QsAQ#imgrc=-b8XTn-avCosQM%253A%3Bj7gkjqaDeWh13M%3Bhttps%253A%252F%252Frenestravels.files.wordpress.com%252F2010%252F02%252Favocado-flowers.jpg%3Bhttps%253A%252F%252Frenestravels.wordpress.com%252Ftag%252Fflowers%252F%3B2272%3B1704)? Does your county’s Master Gardener program run a Hotline or similar service? Find their info here: [http://ucanr.edu/sites/MGWTest/Become\_a\_Master\_Gardener/California\_Master\_Garden\_Counties\_/](http://ucanr.edu/sites/MGWTest/Become_a_Master_Gardener/California_Master_Garden_Counties_/) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-tree-identification-please/723453/3 "2015-06-25T18:14:33Z")
My guess: [Japanese Privet Tree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligustrum_japonicum) ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-tree-identification-please/723453/4 "2015-06-25T18:29:58Z")
It looks like a Longan tree [![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EoOf3ogmKv4/S8IFF4C3dnI/AAAAAAAABOE/MN-ZjWYp0Jg/s1600/SANY1063.JPG) ](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_EoOf3ogmKv4/S8IFF4C3dnI/AAAAAAAABOE/MN-ZjWYp0Jg/s1600/SANY1063.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-tree-identification-please/723453/5 "2015-06-25T21:20:18Z")
Thanks for the suggestions. I’ll check them out. I completely forgot about the Master Gardener program. Thanks for the reminder. ---
**Author:** ![McGuffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@McGuffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McGuffy)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-tree-identification-please/723453/6 "2015-06-25T21:28:36Z")
I sent you a private message. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-tree-identification-please/723453/7 "2015-06-25T21:59:03Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > My guess: > [Japanese Privet Tree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligustrum_japonicum) I think we have a winner. The Longan tree is close, but this tree’s fruits were purple/black and not in bunches. (Hard to see in the pictures) Thanks for all the quick answers. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-tree-identification-please/723453/8 "2015-06-25T22:14:15Z")
> [@McGuffy](#): > > I sent you a private message. A special thank you for that link. It has been bookmarked. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-tree-identification-please/723453/9 "2015-06-25T22:27:59Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > I think we have a winner. The Longan tree is close, but this tree’s fruits were purple/black and not in bunches. (Hard to see in the pictures) > > Thanks for all the quick answers. The giveaway is the scent of the flowers - a somewhat unpleasantly sweet smell. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-tree-identification-please/723453/10 "2015-06-25T23:03:14Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > My guess: > [Japanese Privet Tree](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ligustrum_japonicum) Yes, definitely an Asian privet. I live in an area where Asian privets were put in everywhere, as fast growing trees to replace the oleanders, which were everywhere, the poisonous 70’s flowerpower fad… There’s suburbs near here (In Sydney Australia) that have the footpath (sidewalk) totally filled with this down the streets , two or three in front of every property, both sides…