What are the characteristics of the growth habits of privet (Ligustrum)?

Other names for privet

Pointed-leaf privet, also called white wax tree, wintergreen, wax tree, nüzhen, zhenmu, and general tree.

Growth habits of privet

Privet has good cold resistance and tolerance of waterlogging, prefers a warm and humid climate, and likes light while tolerating shade. It is a deep-rooted tree species with well-developed fibrous roots, fast growth, strong sprouting ability, and tolerance of pruning, but it is not tolerant of barren soil.

It has strong resistance to air pollution, with strong resistance to sulfur dioxide, chlorine gas, hydrogen fluoride, and lead vapor, and it can also tolerate relatively high levels of dust and soot pollution.

It is not strict about climate requirements and can withstand low temperatures of -12°C, but it is suitable for planting in humid, wind-sheltered, sunny places, especially growing well in deep, fertile soil with high humus content.

The flower language of privet

The fruit of privet has the characteristic of not falling from the branches throughout the entire winter. When birds have no feed and are suffering from hunger, the fruit of the wintergreen tree can sustain life. Therefore, the flower language of the wintergreen tree is life.

The value of privet

Ornamental value: Privet can be planted alone or in groups in courtyards, and can also be used as a street tree. Because of its strong adaptability, fast growth, and tolerance of pruning, it is also used as a hedge. Generally, after 3 to 4 years it can take shape and achieve a screening effect.

Medicinal value: After privet leaves are soaked for 24 hours, fragrant wintergreen oil can be extracted by distillation. It is often added to sweets and toothpaste.

Common varieties of privet

1. Tall-stem privet / wintergreen tree

It is an evergreen large shrub or tree, with grayish-brown bark that is smooth and not cracked. The leaves are 8-12 cm long, leathery and glossy, staying green through winter, and have the function of retaining dust and resisting smoke. It can absorb sulfur dioxide and is suitable for factory and urban greening. It is one of the rare evergreen broadleaf tree species in the north.

2. Large-leaf privet (large-leaf privet ball / large-leaf privet tree / Dafeng large-leaf privet base variety)

Deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub, with spreading branches, and branchlets having short soft hairs. Leaves thinly leathery, elliptical to obovate-oblong, hairless, apex blunt, base wedge-shaped, entire, with margins slightly revolute outward; petioles have short soft hairs. Panicle; flowers white, fragrant, sessile, corolla lobes equal in length to the tube; anthers exceeding the corolla lobes. Drupe elliptical, purplish-black. Flowering period July-August.

3. Golden-leaf privet (golden-leaf privet ball / golden-leaf privet tree / tall-stem golden-leaf privet)

Golden-leaf privet has golden-yellow leaves, and the color is even more brilliant and beautiful, especially in spring and autumn. Golden-leaf privet likes light, has poor shade tolerance, medium cold resistance, and strong adaptability. It is not strict about soil requirements, but loose, fertile, well-aerated sandy loam is best. It is used for forming characters or patterns in green spaces and plazas, and can also be used for decorating small courtyards.

4. Red-leaf privet (purple-leaf privet)

Evergreen small tree, with opposite simple leaves, branchlets slightly covered with fine hairs, leaves ovate, ovate to ovate-elliptical, thinly leathery. The leaf shape is very similar to that of small-leaf privet, with stronger sprouting ability, relatively fast growth, and vigorous growth. Its new shoots and young leaves are purplish-red, and against the backdrop of old leaves they appear especially bright and dazzling. If pruned several times, the new branches become dense, and the entire crown appears purplish-red, making it even more gorgeous and striking among green plant clusters. After winter begins, the whole plant again turns purplish-black, making it even more conspicuous among all things.

5. Variegated privet

Deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub, with spreading branches, and branchlets having short soft hairs. Leaves thinly leathery, elliptical to obovate-oblong, hairless, apex blunt, base wedge-shaped, entire, with margins slightly revolute outward; petioles have short soft hairs. Panicle; flowers white, fragrant, sessile, corolla lobes equal in length to the tube; anthers exceeding the corolla lobes. Drupe elliptical, purplish-black. Flowering period July-August.

6. Red-fruit privet (red-fruit wintergreen)

Distributed in the high-cold region of the Luoxiao Mountains at 1500 m, evergreen shrub or small tree, 5-7 m tall, young branches and pedicels purplish-red, leaves elliptical, 6-8 cm long and 3-4 cm wide, pale purplish-red. In areas of Beijing with good microclimate, it can be cultivated entirely in the open field, and it can resist sulfur dioxide, chlorine gas, and hydrogen oxide. It grows normally in alkaline soil with a pH value of 8-9.