Unknown Tree

We're trying to figure out what this tree is; please see the attached pictures. This is the first year it has flowered. The flowers are fragrant, reminding me of a jasmine, but they are small and the leaves aren't right, unless it's a type of jasmine I'm unfamiliar with (grew up in CA). I haven't seen any berries on it, and it has survived 2 winters in North Carolina, albeit mild winters. Thank you!

 

Looks like Privet to me. Ligustrum vulgare (Common Privet) or L. sinense (Chinese Privet).

 

Agreed with Ligustrum, but not L. vulgare. Maybe L. lucidum (Chinese Tree Privet) or L. obtusifolium (Japanese Privet).

 

I would also say Vulgare.......its not lucidum, so possibly obtusifolium

 

The leaves are too large (in particular too broad), and the flower clusters too big, for L. vulgare.

 

i'd agree with that.........obtusifolium has nodding flower panicles (that looks right) in July (reference is from hilliers manual so maybe earlier flowering in Canada) deciduous, did it drop all its leaves for winter?

 

L. vulgare has narrowish, parallel-sided leaves. The other common one up here at least is L. ovalifolium, with broader (ovoid) leaves. I suspect yours is L. sinense, it looks rather like it.

L. lucidum is a different kettle of fish entirely, with larger leaves and erect shoots. The one it gets confused with is L. japonicum.

 

Thank you for all of your help! My parents usually know their plants & trees but hadn't heard of or seen a privet up in Virginia. I didn't realize they are so widespread in the southeast U.S. Now that I know what I'm looking for, particularly the flowers, I've noticed more in our neighborhood, hedges around homes, etc. This tree was a stray that we transplanted to the front of the yard when we put up the fence. It didn't look like it was going to make it last winter after the transplant, but did okay last year. It did lose all its leaves this past winter, then really took off growing this spring, even after a trim. After researching the different types of privets, I went back out to check the scent of the flowers - it is not what I would consider malodorous. It does seem to have a fine fur/hair on the underside of the leaves and on the twigs, but I'm not an expert and I couldn't get too close for too long - there is a robin nest with chicks in there and I don't want to disturb them. Bottom line - privets apparently aren't a good thing, considered a weed by many in Northern America. Definitely good to know.