🌿 Ligustrum Shrub (Ligustrum japonicum)

Ligustrum, also known as Japanese Privet, is a versatile evergreen shrub prized for its dense foliage, glossy leaves, and adaptability. Often used as a hedge or privacy screen, Ligustrum grows quickly and responds well to shaping, making it a popular choice for both formal landscapes and naturalistic plantings. With its tolerance for heat, drought, and a variety of soils, it’s a reliable, low-maintenance option for Florida yards.

🌸 Flowers & Foliage

• Foliage: Glossy, dark green leaves with a leathery texture that stay evergreen year-round

• Flowers: White, fragrant flower clusters in late spring to early summer

• Fruit: Small black berries in fall, often eaten by birds

🌱 Plant Details

• Type: Evergreen shrub (can be trained as a small tree)

• Mature Size: 8–12 ft. tall × 6–8 ft. wide (smaller with regular pruning)

• Growth Habit: Upright, dense, and fast-growing

• Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

• Soil: Adaptable; prefers fertile, well-drained soils

• Water Needs: Low to moderate; drought tolerant once established

• Hardiness: USDA Zones 7–11

• Maintenance: Moderate; prune to control size and encourage dense growth

🌟 Why We Love It

• Excellent hedge plant — creates privacy and structure quickly

• Fast grower — fills in faster than many other shrubs

• Fragrant blooms — spring flowers add seasonal interest

• Durable & adaptable — thrives in a wide range of soil and light conditions

🌼 Landscape Uses

• Privacy screens and tall hedges

• Formal or clipped hedging for structured gardens

• Standalone specimen shrub or small tree

• Foundation or border plantings

• Wildlife-friendly planting (berries for birds)

⚠️ Plant Notes

• Can be invasive in some regions; best used where it’s already a landscape standard.

• Fragrant blooms may be strong for sensitive noses.

✅ Level To Leaf Tip: For a dense privacy hedge, space Ligustrum shrubs 3–4 feet apart and shear regularly — they’ll quickly knit together into a solid green wall.