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Shrubs

Ligustrum japonicum 'Variegatum' (v)

An upright, evergreen shrub with dense foliage of thick, glossy green leaves with irregular creamy yellow margins. Upright, conical sprays of small, scented white flowers in summer are followed by clusters of small, oval black berries

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

1.5–2.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Oleaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets (dogs): Harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Ligustrum can be decidous or evergreen shrubs or small trees, with simple, entire leaves and panicles of small, often unpleasantly scented white flowers in spring or summer, followed by black or deep purple berries
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained soil in sun or partial shade; will not tolerate waterlogging. Variegation is more pronounced in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings in summer or hardwood cuttings in winter

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 1; clip hedges twice in summer

Pests

May be susceptible to privet aphid, scale insects, leaf miners and thrips

Diseases

May be susceptible to leaf spot, honey fungus, virus diseases, Verticillium wilt and Fusarium wilt

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