Japanese Privet, Wax-Leaf Privet

Ligustrum japonicum Thunb.

(with comments on L. sinense Lour. and L. lucidum W. T. Aiton)

lah-GUS-trum jah-PON-ah-cum

Oleaceae

Explanation of name:  Ligustrum is an ancient name. The specific epithet japonicum is self-explanatory. Sinense refers to China, and lucidum means bright and clear, as in lucid.

Natural range for all three species: Asia

Recognition: Large, commonly used shrub (or trained as a small tree) with opposite, glossy leaves and fragrant white flowers in panicles. As with all Oleaceae, there are 2 stamens. Fruit a small black berry (or pseudodrupe).

            Chinese Privet is L. sinense (much smaller than the other two, and usually variegated as encountered in cultivation)

            Glossy Privet (L. lucidum), an invasive exotic species grown mostly to the north of our region, is similar to L. japonicum but has longer leaves (4”-6” vs. 3”-4”) with acuminate tips and acute bases (vs. acute tips and rounded bases), and flowers with the tube as long as (vs. longer than) the lobes. Japanese Privet has conspicuous raised corky lenticels.

            Landscape uses: Japanese Privet is popular for specimens, screens, hedges, and building plantings, valued for easy growth, large size, and fragrant flowers. Often pruned into small tree. Chinese Privet is encountered sporadically around South Florida as a low (2’-3’) mounded, variegated-foliage shrub.

Internet source: http://mgonline.com/ligustrum.html