Ligustrum
Theprivets constitute the most common of allnursery-grown plants. None are native in NorthAmerica, although one or two have becomenaturalized here—all are native of Asia exceptL. vulgare which is a native of Europe andnorthern Africa. Because they are easilypropagated and grow rapidly they are notexpensive plants, and make nearly perfect hedgeplants throughout the country.
Privets are also serviceable as fillers in anyshrub border and, in a few instances, some ofthe vari-colored ones and the evergreen onesare used as ornamental specimens. They areeither deciduous or evergreen, depending onthe species, and they grow so fast and densethat they all can be sheared into makingexcellent hedges. They have opposite leaves,clusters of small creamy-white to white, ratherill-smelling flowers, appearing in the summer;
the fruits are mostly black or blue-black andthe foliage has little autumn color.
The Common Privet (L. vulgare) and theCalifornia Privet (L. ovalfolium) have been themost widely used, but there is a serious twigblight which can affect the former, and wintercold can kill the latter to the ground duringsome winters in the northern states. The AmurPrivet has been used in the colder areas, withgood results, although L. obtusifolium is aboutas hardy. One nurseryman has noted blight on50,000 plants of L. vulgare and the entire lotwas practically a complete
In the South, the most important of theprivets are the Japanese (L. japonicum) and L.lucidum or the Glossy Privet. These have beenconfused in the trade for many years. Both areevergreen and have been used as specimens fortheir good foliage and for their clusters ofcreamy-white summer flowers. Many nurseriesin the South and in Calif. are listing L. texanumwhich in most instances is pure L. japonicum.It may well be that, in growing large numbersof privets from seed, dwarf clones may origin-ate. When this is the case, such plants should begrown and carefully studied, compared withothers and tried in various growth areas. Dwarfprivets, plants that grow to a low height(4-5 ft.) and stay there without shearing, wouldbe valuable hedge plants in this age of the smallgarden.
PropagationSeeds may be stratified at once or kept dry inairtight containers in a cool place for up to ayear and then stratified. Usually 3 months at40′ F. is sufficient. Both softwood and hardwoodcuttings of most am easily rooted.
Insect Pests
California and Amur Privet arc badly infestedwith the rose leaf roller which curls the leavesand makes the plants unsightly. Spraying withinsecticide # 5, # 8 or # 9 is effective. Thripsinjure the leaves and buds. Insecticide # 15 or#8 keeps them normal. Spider mites stunt, dis-color and curl the leaves. Several applicationsof insecticide # 35 or # 34 keep them in check.In the Gulf States camphor scale is a pest ofL. lucidum. Insecticide #45 gives adequatecontrol. Lilac leaf miner is destructive in theWest. Larvae of this tiny moth make blotchmines and roll the tips of the leaves. Insecticides# 55 and #8 give control.
DiseasesAnthracnose causes cankers on the trunknear the ground which may girdle it and kill theplant. European privet is most susceptible. If this disease is prevalent, plant resistant species.Stem galls often 14 in. in dia. arc formed on thestem and branch.. This disease kills heavilyinfected plants. No fungicides are known togive control. Root rot and powdery mildew are minor diseases.
amurense 15′ Zone 3 Amur Privet
In northern areas this privet from northernChina is the best to use‚Äîcertainly better thanthe more tender California Privet which itresembles somewhat in habit of growth. Theleaves are not as lustrous, and it may not bequite as vigorous, but nevertheless because ofits reliable hardiness, it is the best one of thehardy privets for northern gardens. Years agothis privet was popularly called “Amur River‚ÄîNorth”, and L. sinense was popularly called”Amur River‚ÄîSouth”.
delavayanum 6′ Zone 7 Delavay Privet
Usually a IOW, wide-spreading evergreen, notcommon in America and native to China butcertainly of no value outside the warmer areasof the U.S. It looks something like a dwarfcotoneaster and makes an excellent low hedge.henryi 12′ Zone 7 Henry PrivetThis Chinese plant has glossy evergreen leavesthat are 2 in. long and lustrous. It is being grownby several nurseries in the South.
x ibolium 12′ Zone 4 Ibolium Privet
This hybrid privet (L. ovalifolium x obtusifolium)has not been used as much as it might be. It ishardier than the California Privet, is vigorousand more handsome than L. amurense.
beta 6′ Zone 5 ‘both Privet
One of the least ornamental species of Ligustrumwith oblong leaves 4-a in. long and small blackfruits. Native to Japan. Frequently mistaken forL. obtusifolium which is a much better plant.japonicum 6′-t8′ Zone 7 Japanese PrivetThis is an evergreen privet from Japan andKorea widely used in the South and frequentlyconfused with L. lucidum. The Japanese Privethas leaves which arc much more glossy thanthose of L. lucidum. One of the ways of tellingthe two apart is that in the Japanese Privet thenerves on the underside of the leaves are raised,while in L. lucidum they are sunken. Althoughnot as vigorous as L. lucidum its dark greenlustrous foliage makes it a better ornamental.Variegated-leaved varieties sometimes listed inthe trade as L. japonicum ‘Argenteo-margina-tum’ or `Aureo-marginatum. usually turn outto be L. lucidum ‘Aureo-marginatum’. As aresult of cold winters at Chase, Ala., Mr. H. H.Chase writes that where L. lucidum has beenkilled roots and all, L. japonicum has only beenkilled to the ground, a very interesting observa-tion; Tusterlear is a variety that is being grownin Calif. under the name of L. texanum ‘Luster-
leaf’, supposedly with larger and thicker leavesthan those of the regular L. japonicum (syn.texanum); Itotundifolium’ (6 ft.) has shorterbranch., the leaves are spaced more closelytogether and it is lower in habit than the species.It is a good hedge plant.
lucidum 30′ Zone 7 Glossy Privet
The Glossy Privet from China, Korea andJapan is taller than the Japanese Privet and insome places is grown as a tree with a singletrunk. The leaves are 3-5 in. long. The flowerclusters are produced in Aug. (later than thoseof L. japonicum which are produced in late Juneand July). Over 16 varieties are offered by namein the trade. Undoubtedly some are mixed withL. japonicum varieties and some of the namesare probably synonymous. The variety ‘Tri-color’ has leaves with a broad irregular borderof white which is slightly pinkish when theleaves first appear. It is even more tender thanthe species but some have noted that whenindividual plants are well grown, they are veryinteresting.
obtusifolium 9′ Zone 3 Border Privet
Other privets are better in foliage and habit butthis and L. anzurense are the hardiest of all. Thevariety regelianum, the popular Regel Privet, isprobably the most graceful of all this groupbecause of its low growth and graceful hori-zontal-branching system. Unfortunately, it issometimes grown from seed and this results intaller, ungainly plants. The true Beget Privet isnot much over 4-5 ft. tall and to be kept true toname it should be asexually propagated fromlow-growing parent plants with the true habitso desirable. Many times an unclipped Regel’sPrivet is one of real beauty simply because ofits horizontal-branching system.
ovalifolium 55′ Zone 5 California Privet
The California Privet native to Japan is prob-ably the most common of all nursery-grownplants in America. Vigorous, glossy-leaved,amenable to pruning, it should be rememberedthat it is definitely not as hardy as some of theothers, and in very cold winters it can be killedto the ground or even killed completely if usedtoo far North. L. amurense and L. obtusifoliumas well as L. ibolium are hardier. Varieties:`Aureum’, this has been incorrectly termed’Aureo-marginatum. or ‘Varicgatum’. Each leafhas a green spot in the center completely sur-rounded with yellow‚Äîthe better the soil andgrowth conditions the deeper the yellow color.It is the only truly worthwhile variety of theCalifornia Privet and it can vary and revert backto the green-leaved species type. The varietywith leaves bordered a creamy white (`AI.-marginatum’) is not nearly as outstanding anornamental.
quihoui6′Zone 6Quihou Privet
The flowers of this privet from China appear inlate summer, making it the last of the privets tobloom. It is not commonly produced inAmerican nurserian and has little to offer overother privets except its late summer flowers. Ifnot desired for this, it might be overlooked.sinense 12′ Zane 7 Chinese PrivetThis Chinese Privet is popular in the Southbecause of its graceful habit and panicles offlowers in July. Properly grown, it is often con-sidered the most handsome of all the deciduousprivets when it is in flovver, even though theflower clusters are only 3-4 in. long. This is theprivet that is sometimes referred to as “AmurRiver‚ÄîSouth”. Varieties: ‘Periclulum’‚Äîa cloneapparently selected because of its side brancheswhich am definitely more pendulous than thoseof the more upright growing species. This isoften evergreen in southern Ala., but during thecoldest winters the leaves can be knocked offby winter cold. This is sometimes advertised asthe southern equivalent of Regel Privet, withthe added advantage that this is evergreen;stauntonii‚Äîa dwarfer, more spreading form ofthis species; x ‘Suwannee River’‚Äîthis isreported to be a hybrid of L. japonicurn ‘Rotun-difolium’ (syn. coriaceutn) and L. lucidutn,patented No. 1402 and originated by Larry M,Bartlett of Forest Park, Ga., slightly before1955. It IS a low compact-growing privet withlustrous evergreen lean., making low slow-growing plants of an excellent compact habit.
x vicaryi t2′ Zone 5 Vicary Golden Privet
This privet originated in the garden of VicaryGibbs, Aldenham, Middlesex, England, before19izo and is a hybrid of L. ovalifolium ‘Aureum’x L. vulgare. The leaves are yellow throughout
the entire growing season especially when grownin the full sunlight. If grown in shaded situationsthe foliage color is disappointingly yellowishgreen. The shaded inner leaves about the bushare of course green, but from a distance, whengrown as a specimen in the full sun, the plantdoes have a yellowish color throughout thegrowing season but this is not at all pronouncedwhen it is used in clipped hedges.
vulgate x5′ Zone 4 Common Privet
In some places in the eastern U.S., this vigorousprivet from Europe and Northern Africa hasbecome naturalized. The leaves are morenarrow than those of the California Privet andnot as glossy—it is sometimes susceptible to atwig blight which makes it unsightly. The leavescan be used for dyeing (yellow, gold). The largeclusters of lustrous black berries are interestingbut this is no longer as popular as it used to be.It is superseded by several of the larger-leavedprivets from the Orient. The best that can be saidof it is that it will grow in soil or in situationswhere practically nothing else will.
There is no question but that this privet, likeall others, is very easily grown and is quicklysaleable, but because it is susceptible to quickand unexpected killing by an anthracnose ortwig blight, it is doubtful whether it is advisableto grow in large quantity. Because of this, onlythe following are suggested for growing andeven these might be overlooked where otherprivet species prove satisfactory: `Densiflorum’‚Äîthis is an upright-growing cultivar, with abranching habit more dense than `Pyramidale’.If plants of `Densiflorum’ are unclipped theystill retain their good habit after 25 years ormore; italicum‚Äîthe Common Privet is sometimes considered “semi-evergreen,” merelybecause it holds its leaves late in the season, butthis variety has been selected for holding itsleaves longer than any other variety of thisspecies. It is not as hardy as the others,however;`Lodense’‚Äîthis is the dense, compact formwhich used to be called ‘Nanum’. Very oldplants are less than 4 ft. tall and wider, but hereagain susceptibility to blight has ruled out thecontinued growing of this variety in largenumbers; `Pyramidal’‚Äîan excellent tall hedgeplant with upright vigorous-growing branchesif it is kept under 6-8 ft. tall. It only needsoccasional shearing across the top to keep it atthis desired height. Older plants, unclipped,tend to lose the upright character as the branchesbecome heavier and tend to bend toward theground and then they become unsightly.
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