Japanese privet

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; dense growth and flowering are best with several hours of direct sun.

Water

Water regularly while establishing; established plants tolerate short dry spells but grow better with occasional deep watering during drought.

Soil

Most well-drained soils, including clay, sand and chalk; tolerates acidic to alkaline conditions but not prolonged waterlogging.

Height

6-15 ft (1.8-4.6 m), occasionally taller if left unpruned

Spread

6-10 ft (1.8-3 m)

Flowers

Late spring to early summer; upright clusters of small creamy-white flowers with a strong scent that some people find unpleasant.

Foliage

Evergreen. Opposite, thick, glossy dark-green leaves with smooth edges; paler beneath.

Growth

Moderate, becoming faster in warm conditions with adequate moisture.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Fragrant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   4 ft (1.2 m)

3. After 2 years

   6 ft (1.9 m)

4. After 3 years

   8 ft (2.5 m)

5. After 5 years

   10 ft (3.2 m)

   full size

About 4 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Invasive in

the US and Australia

Growth rate

Fast

• Water deeply during dry spells through the first two growing seasons, allowing the soil surface to dry between waterings.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or the soil is poor; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Allow enough room for the mature spread rather than relying on repeated severe clipping.
• Remove seedlings and cut off developing fruit where escape into nearby vegetation is a concern.

Pruning. Thin or reduce established shrubs in late winter or early spring, avoiding severe cuts during freezing weather. Clip hedges after the main spring growth flush and again in summer if needed, keeping the base wider than the top; check for nesting birds before cutting.

Late winter

Remove dead or damaged branches and thin congested growth before new shoots develop.

Spring

Plant in prepared, well-drained soil, water thoroughly and mulch; use spring planting in colder parts of its range.

Late spring

Clip formal hedges after the first growth flush, checking for active bird nests first.

Summer

Water young plants during dry weather and inspect leaves and stems for scale insects.

Late summer

Remove developing berry clusters where self-seeding or bird dispersal is a concern.

Autumn

Pull unwanted seedlings and refresh mulch without piling it against the stems.

• Clip into a dense boundary hedge where the species is not invasive.
• Use as a dark evergreen backdrop to hydrangeas and flowering perennials.
• Train into standards or simple rounded topiary for formal entrances and courtyards.
• Allow to grow as a small multistemmed tree where there is room for its spreading crown.

Garden styles it suits: Formal, Topiary garden, Traditional, Modern courtyard, Japanese and Green on green.

Plant it with: Camellia, Bigleaf hydrangea, Lilyturf, Cast-iron plant and Japanese anemone.

Wildlife: Flowers attract bees and other insects. Birds eat the berries and disperse the seeds; dense growth may provide nesting cover, but escaping plants can displace native vegetation.

• Scale insects: inspect stems and leaf undersides; prune heavily infested shoots and treat susceptible stages with horticultural oil according to the label.
• Leaf spots: remove fallen affected leaves, improve airflow and water at soil level rather than over the foliage.
• Root rot in wet soil: correct drainage and reduce watering; replace badly affected plants rather than replanting into the same waterlogged conditions.
• Winter scorch or dieback: shelter from cold, drying winds and wait until spring growth shows which branches are dead before pruning.

Toxic to people, cats, dogs and horses if eaten, particularly the leaves and berries. Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain; substantial ingestion can be serious, especially in horses. Keep hedge clippings away from livestock and seek medical or veterinary advice after ingestion.

Where it spreads. Escapes cultivation and is listed as invasive in parts of the southeastern United States, including Florida. It is also naturalised in parts of eastern Australia, including New South Wales and Queensland. Birds spread its seeds into woodland and other vegetation; check local restrictions and choose a non-invasive alternative near natural areas.

• Glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum)

  Usually develops into a larger tree, with longer, more distinctly pointed leaves and larger flower clusters; Japanese privet generally has shorter, thicker leaves.

• Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense)

  Has much smaller, thinner leaves and often noticeably hairy young twigs; Japanese privet has larger, leathery, glossy leaves.

• Japanese mock orange (Pittosporum tobira)

  Leaves are alternate and crowded near shoot tips rather than arranged in opposite pairs; its flowers smell of orange blossom and its capsules reveal sticky orange-red seeds.

The epithet japonicum means 'of Japan', referring to part of the plant's native range.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer and root them in a moist, free-draining medium under cover. Seed also germinates, but deliberate seed propagation is best avoided where the plant can escape.

Accepted botanical name

Ligustrum japonicum

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states and Puerto Rico.

Native range

China Southeast, Japan, Korea, Nansei-shoto and Taiwan.

Measured

Soil pH 5.5 to 6.9. Average height 310 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.