Ligustrum sinense

RHS Plant Profile
Chinese privet

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A vigorous deciduous or semi-evergreen suckering shrub, up to 4m high, with a spreading, arching habit, downy stems and elliptic to lance-shaped green leaves. Free-flowering, producing long, dense clusters of small white flowers, often on leafless lateral stems, in midsummer. These are followed by pendent clusters of blue-black berries

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
2.5-4 metres
Max Height
2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

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)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Oleaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous, Semi evergreen
Habit
Bushy, Suckering
Potentially harmful
Harmful if eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
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
Correct
Plant Range
China, Vietnam

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any well-drained soil in full sun or part shade. Avoid planting in areas prone to waterlogging

Propagation

Propagate by seed, semi-ripe cuttings in summer or hardwood cuttings in winter. In good conditions plants often spread by seed and by suckers

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Hedging and screens
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pruning group 1; clip hedges twice in summer

Pests

May be susceptible to privet aphid, willow scale insects, lilac leaf-mining moth and privet thrips

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus, white root rot, leaf spots and Verticillium wilt