Ligustrum flowering, pruning: what's the secret?
lindseyrose
17 years ago
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Gardener972
17 years agolindseyrose
17 years agoRelated Discussions
Question about Wax Leaf Ligustrum or Japanese Privet
Comments (18)Nell & nckvilledudes, Thanks for you help. The process of elimination is never a waste of time. I appreciate your sincere help. Pam, That is not OT at all! On these plants, each leaf has one little cream-colored bump, or node, on the backside on the central leaf vein. The stems are dark green and the leaves are a lighter green. I looked again. They are not glossy, but they are waxy. Like I said before, they remind me of lemon tree leaves, except no fragrance. No scent at all that I can detect. We shall see. I'll grow them in pots until I discover what they are. I don't want to open Pandora's Box if they turn out to be something invasive. They sure are pretty though! Thanks to all. ~Annie...See MoreLigustrums: What are they good for?
Comments (18)I don't like Ligustrum myself. But the former owner planted 5 out on our street corner bed to block noise and view in/out from the intersection. They froze off terribly in February's Snowpocalypse, with all leaves "crispy critters". These are well-estsablished plants at 6'-7'. My husband doesn't want to take them out, so we pruned them back to 4' this morning. Just in the last couple days they are showing new leaves pushing through on the branches, but only down low on the plants. We'll seee how things fo. I just planted 5 Ligustrum sinense 'Sunshine" in a mass planting direct in the ground out at the point of that v-shaped bed, beside the Ligustrum vulgares. They are grouped behind 6 "recovering" Giant Liriopes with a newly emerged rose bush in the front/center of the mass planting. I have no idea what type/color of rose it is, as it has been one spindly sick twig for 5 years and after a tree removal, is loving the new-found light and air. I need some color there and am eager for the "Sunshine" Ligustrums to take off. Love their golden leaf color in the sunshine, their shape, and best of all, that they are non-invasive!...See MoreRE: What's so bad about Japanese privet (aka waxleaf ligustrum)?
Comments (33)I've lost 3 more privet. They were here 45 years ago. I have to replace them, but I need an evergreen shrub that can be kept narrow, grows in shale, tolerates drought and cold winters (not so cold the past few years--climate change), and is not poisonous to birds. It might have to be yew. It's tough. The drupes have a stage when they are very sweet and edible--birds and squirrels love them. They can be brutally pruned and come right back. I have yews that were here when we moved in. We have dug them up and transplanted them many times. I keep one trimmed in a 5 ft dome to keep it dense. This year blue jays nested there. My neighbor has junipers overhanging our garden where a catbird nests every year. One nested in the weigela (not native, but loved by bees and hummingbirds). We put a nest box high in the arbor vitae and wrens nest there regularly. A cardinal nests nearby but I haven't found the nest. When the privet was dense cardinals nested there. I'm in a town in an area overflowing with people and houses. This year we hosted painted lady butterflies, monarchs, viceroys, admirals, sulfurs, skippers, and small blue ones whose name I forget, along with the cabbage whites. My privet hides fledglings and adults, too, when they see a hawk. My lot is only 50'x100' and the house takes up the most room; an embankment limits our front garden but. it's loaded with life. The privet doesn't spread elsewhere. I live across the street from a river park. A privet has never shown up anywhere. Plants aren't good or bad. They just need to grow where they are wanted and leave other people's gardens alone. Love that privet....See MoreHow to grow Wax leaf ligustrum taller
Comments (14)Hi 👋 I know it’s a 4 year old discussion link, but thought I’d give it a try, as this is the topic I have a question in. I’m in Los Angeles area & a year ago planted a row of 15 gal Ligustrum Lucidum (they should grow fast & tall & it’s a medicinal Chinese herb). My objective is to get privacy from neighbors (see pics), so need it to grow in height. Right now they grew in sporadic “spikes”. Also, worth mentioning, that this particular variety produces ENORMOUS amount of berries (see pics). I’m patient, just want to know when & how to trim to encourage them growing tall? Intuitively, I feel I should sheer on the sides right before it flowers so the shrub doesn’t “waste” its energy on the flowering & berries... Don’t see any info on that 🤷🏻♀️ TIA. Any input is appreciated 🙏🏼...See Moresally2_gw
17 years agoalexe
17 years agoroselee z8b S.W. Texas
17 years agocatamount
17 years agoVulture61
17 years agolindseyrose
17 years agojeanne_texas
17 years agoVulture61
17 years agolindseyrose
17 years agoalexe
17 years agojeanne_texas
17 years agosally2_gw
17 years agodollypie76
14 years agoJane Herring
6 months ago
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lindseyroseOriginal Author