Ligustrum Species, Japanese Privet, Waxleaf Privet

I love this tree. Perhaps my variety differs though because the only mess my tree makes is in the spring millions of little white/cream ...Read Morepetals snow down on my patio, but I actually don't mind and think it's a beautiful sight! The smell is amazing and in spring the bees love it, but never have problems with them. I also do not find it invasive at all. I have no sprigs that need to be cut constantly, I don't think I've even had to cut one shoot in the 2 years we've been here. It's amazing. I actually have 2 of these and love them both. Bith are wonderful and none are invasive.

Folks we absolutely love and enjoy our waxleaf privet and have for years.
We have both the flat leaf and the curled leaf.
A...Read Morell I can say is that we have at least seventy to eighty around our farm and would never dream of replacing them.Talk about superb road frontage privacy that can't be beat.Provides a year round evergreen hedge .Trimmed from the ground up about half way makes beautiful mid size oriental trees.
With a scent straight from heaven when in bloom, the blossoms attract beautiful bumble bees and honey bees that work for us around the farm pollinating the gardens!
(Ligustrum japonicum) YES!

I have Ligustrum japonicum (Wax Leaf Privet) in my yard but we have never seen black fruit on them. We love them because they are easy t...Read Moreo maintain and we've never had an issue with them spreading... actually we're looking to put them in the back yard as well if we can find some to plant.

I hate this plant with a passion ! Whoever had this house before I bought it planted this awful plague of a tree and now I have to just ...Read Moredeal with it . 1, it is messy it has these black berries that are food for every bird in the entire state to eat . 2, Everywhere one of those berries lands a new tree starts . 3, Every year I tear more and more of these d*** things out of my flowerbeds and no matter what you do more just pop right up to take their place . I am so sick of this G.D. tree I am ready to pour gasoline on its roots and call it a day . It ruins my flowerbeds with all its volunteers that just seem to help themselves to my containers , cracks in the cement, the foundation even in the gutters . INVASIVE INVASIVE INVASIVE pest of a godforsaken tree . Please excuse my ranting as I am just frustrated with this plant .

Is this plant salt water tolerant?

We are in Southeastern Pa (7a) about 75 miles wnw of Philadelphia, and 75 miles nne of Baltimore; and this plant has been growing well in...Read More a protected spot (shaded by loblolly pines) on the east side of our house.

"Wildlife disperse the seeds from its abundant drupes, which then sprout and grow with amazing vigor... They compete with native understo...Read Morery plants and even suppress native hardwood regeneration." I couldn't have put it any better. They can be controlled in just your own yard, but there's no way to keep the animals from spreading the seeds. So, so sad, what they can do to a woodland ecosystem. Please, please, remove them if you have them, and don't plant any more.

How to distinguish Ligustrum japonicum from Ligustrum lucidum:

The leaf tips of Ligustrum japonicum are blunt or bluntly ...Read Morepointed; however, those of Ligustrum lucidum are sharply pointed. The leaf tips of Ligustrum lucidum tend to bend backwards a bit.

Ligustrum japonicum leaves are three to four inches (7.5 to 10 cm) long; whereas, Ligustrum lucidum leaves are four to six inches (10 to 15 cm) long.

When a L. lucidum leaf is backlit by strong light, the lateral veins are lucid and appear as is a “halo” (pinkish) on the leaf margins. L. japonicum leaf veins are inconspicuous or opaque before a strong light.

L. japonicum usually has a shiny, waxy leaf, whereas, a L. lucidum leaf is dull. L. japonicum leaves snap when bent. L. lucidum leaves usually just bend. They are thinner and softer than L. japonicum leaves.

When grown as a tree, L. japonicum is smaller in stature than L. lucidum and is usually 15 to 18 ft. (4.5 to 5.5 m) with an equal spread (can grow to 20 ft.). L. lucidum can grow 25 ft. (8 m) to 40 ft. (14 m) in height with a 25 ft. (8 m) to 35 ft. (12 m) spread.

L. japonicum usually has small clusters of tightly bunched fruit with L. lucidum having prominent, loose clusters of fruit.

There seems to be confusion as to this plant's true identity here. Unfortunately, the moniker "Japanese Ligustrum" has been used for Lig...Read Moreustrum lucidum in many areas, and several of the photos here show that species instead of Ligustrum japonicum (more frequently referred to in my area as "Waxleaf Ligustrum" -- a reversal of the two species' literal meanings).

Japanese Privet, Waxleaf Privet Ligustrum japonicum is naturalized in Texas and other States and is considered an invasive plant in Texas.

This plant is very prolific in northern California. I constantly have strong-rooted volunteers popping up in my yard. Their favorite pl...Read Moreace to sprout seems to be right near the trunks of other valuable trees, making it hard to dig them out. 'Invasive' is too strong a term, but they are definitely annoying.

Like Ligustrum sinensis, this is an exotic invasive species. Wildlife disperse the seeds from its abundant drupes, which then sprout and ...Read Moregrow with amazing vigor in Southern woodlands. They compete with native understory plants and even suppress native hardwood regeneration. Like kudzu, it is extremely difficult to remove once it has established itself. We would be better off if Ligustrum had never been imported to N America.

My first experience was very good, but I'm not sure if I got lucky in my method of cutting and planting. I cut a small (6inch) stem, remo...Read Moreved all but three small leaves, cut it on an angle wet it covered with Rootone, shook off excess then placed it into a mixture of sand and peat moss. These were in a cold frame, and not opened for about 5-6 mo's. Approximately 90% made it, have since placed into 1 gal. containers for about another 4 months. All have made it into 18 inch plants.

In my area which is Dallas, Tx., it grows like a weed. The only kind I have ever planted is the varigated. However if you prune that it...Read More goes solid green. They love the fence line and will grow in between it. We have the small leaf and the large. I prefer to shape them into trees, the blooms are beautiful and the berries give color to a bland landscape in the winter.

A very popular and dependable shrub or small tree in the lower South. Flowers are very fragrant, but some people are allergic. Good for...Read More urban landscapes and for topiaries. Excellant screen, but be prepared to do lots of clipping for a formal hedge. Variegated forms available in yellow and white.

When planting a few of them, you can sense a sweet smell when they all start blooming at the same time. It´s a great sensation I have ev...Read Moreeryday in my way to work.

Wonderfully tough plant that grows fast and tolerates many moisture conditions including lack of. Makes a great hedge or small tree for ...Read Morethe landscape. If pruned right, it'll form a vase-shaped small tree. Or, if cut completely off about three feet from the grond to rejuvenate it every few years, it will make a beautiful round huge bush/small tree like the one in the first pic on this page.

One drawback is limbs die off in older ones, so you'll need to prune them out quite often.

Needs well-drained soil and prefers regular watering. Grows fast. Leaves are glossy and leathery.