James H. Schutte
Family
Oleaceae
Botanical Name
Ligustrum
Plant Common Name
Privet
General Description
Ligustrum comprises approximately 50 species of shrubs and small trees. They are evergreen or deciduous and native to Asia, Australia, North Africa and Europe. Prized for attractive foliage, rapid growth and a profusion of small flowers, they are often planted as shrubbery, hedges or specimen trees. Many ligustrums are known as privet.
Shiny leaves, variable shaped are arranged opposite each other on the stems. Branched clusters of small, funnel-shaped flowers ending in four lobes are produced late in the spring or summer at the ends of the stems. The flowers are typically white to cream, strongly scented, some say unpleasantly so, and attractive to bees. The blue-black fruits follow the flowers in the fall and are small, berry-like with stone hard seeds.
Cultural requirements vary, but most Ligustrum prefer full to partial sun and well-drained soil. They are usually drought and frost tolerant. Cold hardiness varies widely among the varieties. Commonly planted species require little care once established other than pruning to control size and maintain desired shape. Pests such as scale insects, mites, thrips, aphids and root rots are bothersome to some.
Commonly planted species include Amur privet (Ligustrum amurense) which is planted as a deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub with fuzzy leaves. Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum) commonly planted in the western and southern United States is favored for hedges and patio trees. California privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) is best planted in the warmest locations for its dark green leaves, heat tolerance and prunability.
Several Ligustrum species have escaped cultivation outside of their native ranges and are listed as invasive. These include Ligustrum lucidum, Ligustrum robustum, Ligustrum sinense and Ligustrum vulgare. For more information about the invasiveness of Ligustrum see the Global Invasive Species Database at http://www.issg.org/database/species/search.asp?sts=sss&st=sss&fr=1&sn=ligustrum&rn=&hci=-1&ei=-1&lang=EN&x=17&y=15.
There are health concerns with the plants of this genus, see http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Ligusja.htm for more information.
Use Ligustrum as specimens, in hedges or containers.
