Sign In 
Get Premium California Privet
(Ligustrum ovalifolium)
California Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium)
/
/
MPF assumed
CC BY 2.5
Image By:
MPF assumed
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 2.5
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: MPF assumed | License Type: CC BY 2.5 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5 | Uploader: MPF | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Ligustrum_ovalifolium.jpg | Notes: User created page with UploadWizard |
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Ligustrum ovalifolium, commonly known as California Privet, is a dense, fast-growing shrub or small tree that is deciduous in colder climates and evergreen to semi-evergreen in warmer winter areas. It is native to Japan and Korea, where it thrives in a variety of habitats including forest edges and open woodlands. This species typically reaches 10–15 feet (3.0–4.6 m) in both height and width. The oval-shaped leaves are a glossy green, and the plant produces clusters of small, white flowers in midsummer after 330 growing days. These blooms emit a strong fragrance that some find unpleasant. The fruits are small, purple to black drupes that are toxic to humans but are a food source for birds. In optimal conditions, a single shrub can yield thousands of fruits.
California Privet is valued for its dense foliage and rapid growth, making it an excellent choice for privacy hedges and screens in urban and suburban landscapes. It is also used for border planting and topiary. To maintain a neat hedge form, it requires frequent trimming, which inhibits flowering and fruiting. It prefers full sun to part shade, medium water, and well-drained soils. However, it is adaptable to various soil types and drainage conditions. Gardeners should be aware that this species can become invasive outside its native range, particularly in the United States, where it can spread into natural areas and displace native vegetation.CC BY-SA 4.0
California Privet is valued for its dense foliage and rapid growth, making it an excellent choice for privacy hedges and screens in urban and suburban landscapes. It is also used for border planting and topiary. To maintain a neat hedge form, it requires frequent trimming, which inhibits flowering and fruiting. It prefers full sun to part shade, medium water, and well-drained soils. However, it is adaptable to various soil types and drainage conditions. Gardeners should be aware that this species can become invasive outside its native range, particularly in the United States, where it can spread into natural areas and displace native vegetation.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Shrub
- Height: 10-15 feet
- Width: 10-15 feet
- Growth Rate: Rapid
- Flower Color: White
- Flowering Season: Summer
- Leaf Retention: Semi-deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Medium, Slow
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Fragrant, Hedges, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Native to forest edges and open woodlands in Japan and Korea, and potentially invasive outside its native range
Other Names
Common Names: California Privet , Oval-Leaved Privet , Garden Privet , Kaliforniese Liguster , Japanischer Liguster , Aligustre Japonés , Troène Des Haies , Haagliguster , Bredbladig Liguster , 왕쥐똥나무
Scientific Names: Ligustrum ovalifolium , Ligustrum japonicum var. ovalifolium , Ligustrum glaucummarginatum
GBIF Accepted Name: Ligustrum ovalifolium Hassk.