Ligustrum

( lih - GUST - rum )

At-A-Glance Information

Ligustrum, commonly known as Privet, is a very popular ornamental genus of evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous flowering shrubs that need full sun to partial shade and regular water to perform well in the garden. The summertime flowers will attract bees and other pollinators to the landscape, and the berries that follow in autumn will attract birds. Use Privet as a privacy hedge or screening plant, as foundation plantings, as color contrast or accents in mixed beds or shrubberies, in containers, or as topiaries or small shade trees. Take care when planting this shrub in your garden as the leaves and fruits are somewhat toxic and can cause stomach issues if ingested by humans or pets.

Ligustrum Species and Varietals

The genus Ligustrum includes about 50 distinct species, and is a member of the plant family Oleaceae. Plants in this genus are closely related to those in genera Olea (Olive), Chionanthus (Fringetree), Forsythia (Lilac), Jasmine, and Fraxinus (Ash). The best growing zones for Privet depend on the species; for more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Ligustrum japonicum (Japanese Privet, Wax-Leaf Privet, Nezumi-Mochi, ネズミモチ, Mouse Rice Cake, Rìběn nǚzhēn, 日本女贞)
This evergreen shrub grows well in USDSA hardiness zones 7-10 or Sunset growing zones 4-24, H1 and H2 and is native to Japan, Korea, and China. Plants reach up to 10-12 feet tall and 8 feet wide at maturity and have a dense habit. Leaves are glossy and green on top and pale underneath. This species is wonderful as a privacy hedge and can also be used as a topiary subject. Japanese Privet is considered highly invasive in the southeastern United States (Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama, Maryland, Georgia, Virginia). Cultivars are listed and described below:

'Howardii'
Bright yellow new leaves mature to lush green. 6-8 feet tall, 406 feet wide.

'Kindly'
Sterile, to 4-6 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. Dense foliage.

'Lake Tresca'
With a weeping habit. 4-5 feet tall.

'Nobilis'
This columnar selection grows to 8 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Makes a great, compact tree.

'Recurvifolium'
This variety has wavy leaves that twist at the tips, and has a somewhat open growth habit. Smaller than most in the species.

'Rotundifolium'
This variety reaches 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide, with nearly round leaves. It will need partial shade in warmer climates.

'Silver Star'
To 8 feet tall with deep green leaves mottled with grey-green and edged with white.

'Texanum'
To 8-10 feet tall and 4-6 feet wide. Dense foliage makes this plant very useful as a windbreak.

'Variegatum'
Leaves are blotched and edged with creamy white.

Ligustrum lucidum (Glossy Privet, Broad-Leaf Privet, Chinese Privet, Tree Privet, Wax-Leaf Privet, Tou-Nezumimochi,トウネズミモチ, 唐鼠黐, Nǚ Zhēn, 女贞)
This species takes the form of an evergreen tree, reaching 20-40 feet tall and just as wide. It grows best in USDA hardiness zones 8-11 or Sunset growing zones 5-24, H1 and H2 and is native to China, Japan, and Korea. Leaves are glossy and green and flowers bloom in very large clusters late spring to early summer. Can be used as a lawn tree, or if planted about 10 feet apart, a large-scale privacy screen or windbreak. The downside is that the profuse crop of berries produced by this tree do stain sidewalks and cars underneath the canopy. They also spread rapidly via bird activity and volunteers will need to be pulled up. This species is considered highly invasive in temperate and subtropical regions around the world, including California and the southeastern United States, Argentina, Australia, and South Africa.

Ligustrum obtusifolium (Border Privet, Amur Privet)
Native to Japan, Korea, and China, this species is a commonly cultivated ornamental deciduous shrub that can reach up to 10 feet tall. Border Privet grows well in USDA hardiness zones 4-7. This species is considered invasive in much of the Eastern and Midwestern United States.

Ligustrum ovalifolium (California Privet, Korean Privet, Garden Privet, Oval-Leaved Privet)
This shrub is evergreen in warm-winter climates, and in all others is semi-evergreen. It is native to Japan and grows best in USDSA hardiness zones 5-9 or Sunset growing zones 3b-24, H1 and H2. The shrub has dark green leaves and grows to 8-15 feet tall and 6-10 feet wide. It makes a great sheared hedge, though it has greedy roots so do not plant it too close to its neighbors. It can tolerate some heat. Cultivars include 'Aureum' (also called Golden Privet, with broad, yellow leaf margins), 'Viacryi' (with rounded, bright yellow foliage), 'Argenteum' (also called Silver Privet, with foliage heavily edged in cream-white), and 'Good Vibrations' (pictured; to 3-5 feet tall with creamy-white margins on leaves). This species is highly invasive California, Hawai'i, Washington state, as well as the midwest and eastern regions of the United States.

Ligustrum quihoui (Waxyleaf Privet, Quihoi Privet)
Native to Korea and China, this species of Privet is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens. It grows well in USDA hardiness zones 6-10, and forms a shrubby, evergreen plant to between 3 and 9 feet tall at maturity. Flowers are white and fragrant. This species is considered highly invasive throughout the southeastern and south-central United States.

Ligustrum vulgare (Common Privet, Wild Privet, European Privet)
This species of Privet is deciduous and grows best in USDA hardiness zones 4-8 or Sunset growing zones 4-24 and H1. It is native to the northern areas of Europe, the Mediterranean, and Asia Minor. It reaches 15 feet tall and 12 feet wide, and has dark green leaves. Its roots are not as aggressive as others in the genus, and it produces showy clusters of larger black fruits. Cultivars include 'Lodense' (dwarf to 4 feet tall and wide), 'Cheyenne' (cold-tolerant), 'Buxifolium' (with leaves similar to Buxus spp.), Pyramidale' (with tall, narrow habit), 'Chorocarpum' (with green berries), and 'Xanthocarpum' (with yellow berries). This species is considered highly invasive in the eastern and midwestern regions of the United States, New England, Australia, New Zealand, and areas of Canada.

Caring for Ligustrum

Privet shrubs should be planted in full sun to partial shade in soil that is well-draining. They like to get between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun each day, with some shade in the late afternoon in warmer climates. Amend soil with plenty of organic material before planting. If you are growing these shrubs as screening plants or are creating a hedge with them, be mindful of spacing. Although these plants may start small, they will quickly fill their allotted space and grow to their full size, possibly choking out other nearby plants. Water new plantings regularly to help them establish a strong root system. Once mature, these shrubs are considered drought-tolerant, but will need occasional waterings during dry spells. Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base to increase soil water retention, reduce weeds, and maintain consistent soil temperatures.

Prune these shrubs regularly to maintain the shape and size that you desire. These shrubs can be sheared regularly to create a formal-looking hedge, or left to their own devices, where they will take on an upright look. Spring is the best time to prune these garden staples; remove dead or damaged branches as well as prune to shape and size. A light summer pruning can also be carried out if need be. If a rejuvenation pruning is needed, take action in late winter to early springtime, cutting the entire shrub back to between 6 and 12 inches from the ground. New growth will emerge from the base. In springtime, apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the base of the plant to support new growth. These shrubs are long-lived perennials, and can survive in the garden for between 15 and 30 years on average. In their native habitats, they can easily survive for 50 to 80 years or more.

Propagation

Ligustrum can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Ligustrum by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Ligustrum by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a fine mesh strainer, a sealable bag filled with peat moss, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seeds are contained within the fruits on the plant. Cut the fruit open once it has started to prune up, and remove the seeds from the fruit. Once they have been released, give them a rinse in a fine mesh strainer and place them aside.
Ligustrum seeds need to be cold-stratified before being able to germinate. Place the seeds for three to six months in a fridge, stored in a plastic bag filled with moist peat moss. After they have been cooled, remove the seeds from the peat moss and set them aside.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes around 60 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Each Ligustrum berry contains between 1 and 4 seeds.

Ligustrum seeds are small, hard kernels.

Problems and Pests

Many species of Ligustrum are considered invasive in certain regions; see the species descriptions above for more information. Check with local authorities before planting. Privet shrubs are susceptible to the following pests and diseases in the landscape: