Ligustrum - A Versatile Landscape Plant

Evergreen ligustrum shrubs and trees thrive throughout the state. They are widely used as landscape shrubs, hedges, and specimen trees. Many species and cultivars are available with a diversity of leaf colors, leaf forms, and growth habits. All selections are tolerant of heavy pruning that makes them suited for clipped hedges. Because of a rapid growth rate, many require pruning to maintain them within bounds. The white flowers are attractive during late spring and early summer. However, the pungent odor may be objectionable.

The most common ligustrums grown in Florida are Japanese or wax privet (Ligustrum japonicum), glossy privet (L. lucidum) and Chinese privet (L. sinense). Japanese privet and glossy privet are easily confused. Japanese privet has thick, evergreen, glossy leaves 3 to 4 inches long. The leaves have 4 to 5 pairs of veins and leaf tips have a wide-angled, blunt point. Japanese privet is a vigorous, compact shrub or small tree reaching a maximum height of 15 to 18 feet, but is easily pruned to maintain desired height. Some available cultivars of Japanese privet are: 'Erecta', 'Gold Tip', 'Howardi', 'Nobile', and 'Variegatum'. A slow growing, round leaf, upright variety of Japanese privet, Lugustrum japonicum var. roundifolium also called L. recurvifolium, is also available.

Glossy privet (L. lucidum) grows rapidly and can become a small tree 30 to 40 feet tall. The dark evergreen leaves are 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) long, with 6 to 8 pairs of veins and narrow, elongated tips. Small white flowers are born in compact terminal clusters in spring. The small mature black berries persist much of the year.

Variegated Chinese privet (L. sinense 'Variegata') has small white to yellowish variegated leaves 1 1/2 to 3 inches long. The less popular green leafed Chinese privet (L. sinense) is occasionally planted. The variegated form does develop occasional branches with totally green leaves. These branches should be pruned to maintain a uniform variegated form. Both forms grow rapidly and can become 12 feet tall and 10 feet wide. However, Chinese privet is extremely tolerant of pruning and can be maintained at the desired height and spread with regular pruning. The 4-inch terminal clusters of flowers produced in April are nearly invisible against the background of variegated foliage.

Ligustrums are one of the most commonly used landscape plants. Their low cost, availability, rapid growth and wide adaptability to most habitats contribute to their overuse. Ligustrums are used as foundation plantings, hedges , shrub borders, accent shrubs, and specimen and patio trees. Most ligustrums are not well suited for home foundation plantings because of their rapid growth and large ultimate size. Frequent and severe pruning is necessary to prevent these shrubs form obscuring windows and overgrowing alloted areas.

Ligustrums are ideally suited for formal or informal hedges because of their large mass of foliage and ability to tolerate heavy shearing as well as neglect. Hedge plants should be spaced 2 feet apart for low formal hedges and 4 feet or more for medium to tall formal or informal hedges. The variegated leaf forms should be used with restraint as hedge or border plants due to their overpowering accenting influence. These variegated forms can be used as accents when planted singly or as small groups. Japanese and glossy privet are prized as multiple stemmed patio and specimen trees . Specimen trees can be maintained in large containers with dramatic effects.

Privets can be planted throughout Florida with little fear of cold injury. They are tolerant of the wide diversity of Florida's native soils and can be grown in full sun to partial shade. Japanese and glossy privet are moderately salt tolerant but should not be used where subjected directly to salt spray. Variegated Chinese privet is not salt tolerant.


Copyright by Dr. Bob's Gardening Tips