Ligustrum japonicum Seeds | Japanese Privet
LATIN NAME: Ligustrum japonicum
COMMON NAME: Japanese Privet, Wax Leaf Privet
Plant Profile
Japanese Privet (Ligustrum japonicum) grows as a dense, evergreen shrub in the olive family (Oleaceae), native to warm regions of the east, while it has been cultivated widely for its hedging. At maturity it stands about Five metres. The blooms are worked steadily by bees for as long as they are open. Add these qualities together and you have a species well worth a place in the garden.
Science & Biotechnology
Seed science, comparative botany and horticultural selection all touch on Ligustrum japonicum, a representative of the olive family with clear practical value. The Japanese privet has a real and distinguished place in research. Continuing work by breeders and collectors keeps good seed of this species moving through the trade.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Japanese Privet for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. To raise the Japanese privet, sow seeds in pots of moist, open soil in a bright, cool place, keep them gently watered, and grow little shrubs on in the sun. They were evergreen, low-maintenance, and seemed to blend into the background—until late spring, when they erupted in clusters of tiny, creamy-white flowers that filled air with a sweet, heady fragrance. Thereafter it wants only the ordinary attentions any garden plant receives.
Privet fruit, Nu Zhen Zi, is a classical Chinese yin tonic for liver, eyes and hair, often paired with eclipta in the famous Er Zhi Wan formula; the shrubs are fine hedges, though their berries are not for eating raw.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of Japanese Privet under ordinary good conditions. A simple routine works well: sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly in a loose, well-drained seed compost, maintain even moisture, and provide bright light. Move strong seedlings into individual pots, keep them in good light, and set them out when the weather and their size agree.
Our Take
Japanese Privet, Wax Leaf Privet has real presence in the garden without demanding much in return. Sun, free drainage and a patient first year are all it really requires.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Japanese Privet often pair it with these related subjects: