Ligustrum obtusifolium - Border Privet (Oleaceae) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ligustrum obtusifolium is the most common formal Trunk semi-evergreen to deciduous hedge for northern -light gray and fairly smooth climates through zone 3. Border Privet has dense, -lenticels a lighter color dark green foliage to the ground if pruned as a formal hedge. USAGE Function FEATURES -formal hedge by far the most common Form -also informal hedge, screen, or non-thorny barrier -semi- -good in rows, borders, against walls or foundations evergreen to (except full shade areas) deciduous large shrub -to 12' tall x Texture 15' wide but -fine in foliage and when bare often smaller -average density in foliage but thick when bare -radiating rounded shrub in youth if left unpruned, Assets becoming an arching vase with age -urban tolerance -frequently pruned into a formal hedge -most commonly used deciduous formal hedge for -medium rate northern climates Culture -foliages to the ground if a formal hedge -full sun to partial shade Liabilities -adaptable to most urban stress situations (soils, pHs, -growth rate requires frequent pruning if used as a compaction, drought, high light, heavy pruning, formal hedge pollution) -poor autumn color -does not like poor drainage -other shrubs and trees may grow up through the Foliage shrub and be a pesky problem to remove because the -medium to dark average density allows light to penetrate to the green interior -semi-evergreen to -garbage collector deciduous -attracts bees if allowed to flower -opposite Habitat -elliptical to -Zone 3 oblong -Native to Japan -short petioled -about 1-1.5" long SELECTIONS -green, yellowish Alternates green, or green- -formal or informal hedges, either deciduous purple (Ligustrum sp., Ribes alpinum, Spiraea x vanhouttei, -not showy Viburnum dentatum, etc.) or evergreen (Buxus Flowers cultivars, Taxus x media, etc.) -white -barriers or screens, either deciduous (Acanthopanax -late May to early June sieboldianus, Ligustrum sp., Lonicera sp., Rosa -inflorescences that tend to nod multiflora, Rubus sp., etc.) or evergreen (Juniperus -will cover the plant and be rather attractive if it was [upright forms], Taxus x media 'Hicksii', Thuja unpruned during the second half of the previous year occidentalis [upright forms], etc.) and sited in full sun Cultivars - Variants - Related species -slightly malodorous -Ligustrum obtusifolium var. regelianum - Regel -attract bees Privet - (named for a person, but often incorrectly Fruits spelled Regal Privet); to 5' x 5'; horizontal branching -black to blue-black predominates with the leaves (to 2") in a single plane -fruits mature in clusters in Sept. and persist into the with the branch, yielding an overall graceful layered following spring if uneaten by birds appearance if left unpruned; commonly used as the Twigs variety of choice for more compact urban needs -olive, becoming light gray -Ligustrum x vicaryi - Golden Vicary Privet - a -thin and multi-branching, giving the unpruned or hybrid that yields bright yellow-green foliage in full pruned shrub a very twiggy appearance sun, but dies back to the ground about every third -will branch and foliage nearly to the ground winter in central Ohio; needs full sun for best golden color (good for foundations and entranceways), but exposure makes it very prone to winter stem dieback.