Ligustrum japonicum 'TEXANUM'

Privets are deciduous, semi-evergreen, or evergreen shrubs from all continents but America. They are commonly fast growing and dense which makes them ideal for screening and hedging. However, there are a few exceptionally beautiful species or varieties which deserve to be planted as specimens. Japanese privet is too tender to grow reliably in USDA zone 6, we recommend growing it in zone 7 and higher.

Texanum is a highly attractive variety of Japanese privet, also called waxleaf privet. Its evergreen leaves are leathery, narrowly ovate, 4-6 cm long, bright green and glossy above, pale green and matte on the reverse. In mid-summer appears a quantity of about 10 cm long, terminal panicles composed of small, creamy, fragrant flowers. They are followed by blue-black berries, mildly toxic to humans but loved by the birds.

It grows slowly to moderately fast (20-30 cm per year) into an elegantly ruffled shrub with densely leaved branches, forming a V shape. If you don't like its natural habit, you can prune it in any way, preferably in spring after all frosts or after flowering. You can use it as an unusual evergreen specimen plant in a small garden, in a border with other shrubs of different shapes and colours, and it is obviously a beautiful hedging plant.

Evergreen privets prefer acidic to neutral soil with enough nutrients for best leaf color. They love growing in full sun or only light shade, in deep shade they bloom less and lose their shape. The soil must be well-drained as their roots will die in clay or compacted ground. Once established, they cope well with long-term drought and are highly heat resistant. Texanum waxleaf privet has been tested and proved reliable down to -18 °C without any protection, and further trials are ongoing. We recommend mulching in winter.

Last update 21-03-2023