Pronounciation: La-GUS-trum LOU-sa-dum

Hardiness zones
Sunset 4-24
USDA 7 (with cold protection), 8-11

Landscape Use: Informal background hedge of screen, small multiple-trunk patio or streetscape tree, filler plant.

Form & Character: Upright and rounded, formal, dense, , oriental, mesic.

Growth Habit: Evergreen, woody, perennial broadleaf large shrub to small tree, moderately upright and rounded to 25-feet tall with less than equal spread. Can be maintained effectively at 6- to 10-feet tall.

Foliage/Texture: Opposite, thick, glabrous, waxy, ovate, leaves to 4-inches long, prominent midvein, prominent stem lenticels; medium texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Musty smelling small white flowers in panicle clusters; fruits small black, waxy globose to 1/4-inch long and clustered.

Seasonal Color: White flowers in late spring and early summer. Fruit add a subtle accent color in fall.

Temperature: Tolerant of Phoenix cold and heat.

Light: Partial sun best. Avoid western sun as is prone to trunk sunscald in Phoenix.

Soil: Some chlorosis in wet alkaline soils, well drained.

Watering: Though moderately drought tolerant in coastal California, glossy privet needs regular supplemental water in Phoenix.

Pruning: Best pruned in early to mid summer after bloom. Can be pruned in any manner. Sometimes sheared as large topiary. Severe renewal pruning to the ground (aka stooling) works well to rejuvenate old glossy privet hedges.

Propagation: Seed (has naturalized in the southeast United States), softwood cutting.

Disease and Pests: Root rot pathogens, especially Texas root rot, scale, spider mites.

Additional comments: Currently (and sadly), glossy privet is an old-fashioned and neglected Phoenix landscape plant from the long by-gone era of ca. 1940s to 1960s landscape designs. Like Ligustrum japonicum, this was once a popular and much-used plant in the desert Southwest including Phoenix. Even still though, it makes an excellent small tree or large informal hedge.

Medicinal uses: Glossy privet fruits have medicinal and anti-fungal value.