Ligustrum Ligustrum vulgare
INTRODUCTION
Although often used as a shrub or
hedge, Japanese Privet works well when allowed to grow into
a small tree, its curved multiple trunks and dark green canopy
creating an interesting architectural focus, 8 to 12 feet tall
and often considerably wider, for the landscape. Old specimens
can grow to 25 feet across. The glossy evergreen leaves are
abundantly produced on the upright, spreading branches. The
small, white, malodorous flowers appear in terminal panicles
during spring in the south and in the summer in northern climes.
The blooms are followed by abundant blueblack berries which
persist most of the year. The berries are popular with birds
and the dispersed seeds occasionally germinate where they fall
but this is usually not a nuisance.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Scientific name: Ligustrum japonicum
Pronunciation: lih-GUS-trum juh-PAWN-ih-kum
Common name(s): Japanese Privet, Wax-Leaf Privet
Family: Oleaceae
USDA hardiness zones: 7B through 10A
Origin: not native to North America
Uses: Bonsai; container or above-ground planter; hedge; large parking
lot islands (> 200 square feet in size); wide tree lawns (>6
feet wide); medium-sized parking lot islands (100-200 square feet
in size); medium-sized tree lawns (4-6 feet wide); recommended
for buffer strips around parking lots or for median strip plantings
in the highway; near a deck or patio; screen; trainable as a standard;
small parking lot islands (< 100 square feet in size); narrow
tree lawns (3-4 feet wide); specimen; sidewalk cutout
Availability: generally available in many areas within its hardiness
range
DESCRIPTION
Height: 8 to 12 feet
Spread: 15 to 25 feet
Crown uniformity: symmetrical canopy with a regular (or smooth)
outline, and individuals have more
or less identical crown forms
Crown shape: round; spreading; vase shape
Crown density: dense
Growth rate: medium
Texture: medium
Foliage
Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite
Leaf type: simple
Leaf margin: entire; undulate
Leaf shape: oblong; ovate
Leaf venation: pinnate
Leaf type and persistence: broadleaf evergreen; evergreen
Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches; less than 2 inches
Leaf color: green
Fall color: no fall color change
Fall characteristic: not showy
Flower
Flower color: white
Flower characteristics: showy; spring flowering; summer flowering;
unpleasant fragrance
Fruit
Fruit shape: oval; round
Fruit length: < .5 inch
Fruit covering: fleshy
Fruit color: black; blue; purple
Fruit characteristics: attracts birds; inconspicuous and not showy;
no significant litter problem; persistent on the tree
Trunk and Branches
Trunk/bark/branches: bark is thin and easily damaged from mechanical
impact; droop as the tree grows, and will require pruning for
vehicular or pedestrian clearance beneath the canopy; routinely
grown with, or trainable to be grown with, multiple trunks; showy
trunk; no thorns
Pruning requirement: requires pruning to develop strong structure
Breakage: resistant
Current year twig color: green; gray
Current year twig thickness: medium
Culture
Light requirement: tree grows in part shade/part sun; tree grows
in full sun
Soil tolerances: clay; loam; sand; slightly alkaline; acidic; well-drained
Drought tolerance: moderate
Aerosol salt tolerance: moderate
Other
Roots: surface roots are usually not a problem
Winter interest: no special winter interest
Outstanding tree: not particularly outstanding Invasive potential:
little, if any, potential at this time Verticillium wilt susceptibility:
susceptible
Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests
USE AND MANAGEMENT
Although tolerant of tight clipping, Japanese Privet is quite attractive
when allowed to retain its natural multi-stemmed form, making
it ideal for use in shrubbery borders and other informal settings.
It makes a nice specimen in any landscape where a small dark
tree is needed. Planted close together on about 10 to 15-foot
centers, ligustrum will form a canopy over a pedestrian walkway
but will not grow tall or wide enough for canopy closure over
a street or parking lot. The tree looks best in a landscape
setting with a low groundcover planted around its base. Japanese
Privet grows in full sun or partial shade and is tolerant of
a wide range of soil types, including calcarious clay as long
as water is not allowed to stand in the root zone. Plants grow
quickly while young but Japanese Privet is not especially salt-tolerant
and will require protection from direct salt spray. If you
decide to use this plant as a clipped hedge, be sure that the
top is kept narrower than the bottom to provide light to the
lower branches. This will help ensure the plant will remain
full to the ground. Many cultivars are available and plants
grafted onto L. quihoui for protection from nematodes are preferred,
when available. ‘Silver Star’ has deep green leaves
mottled with grey and edged in creamy white;‘Texanum’ is
very similar to the species but is lowergrowing and has denser
growth; ‘Fraseri’ has yellow to yellow-green new
growth; ‘Jack Frost’ has glossy green leaves with
a thin edge of creamy white; ‘Lake Tresca’ has
small leaves and the lower branches droop to form a mound;
and‘Variegatum’ has leaves variegated and edged
with white. Ligustrum x vicaryi has golden variegated leaves,
with bright yellow new growth. Propagation is by seed or cuttings.
Pests and Diseases
None usually serious, although thrips and mites can occasionally
discolor foliage. Soil nematodes can cause serious plant decline
and they can be prevalent, particularly in sandy soil.
by Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson
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