ligustrum japonicum

Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
Price range: Contact Us
Rating: 4.8/5

Ligustrum japonicum, commonly known as Japanese Privet, is a highly versatile and attractive evergreen shrub that has become a favourite choice for New Zealand gardeners. Renowned for its glossy green foliage and upright growth habit, Ligustrum japonicum forms dense, lush hedges that provide year-round privacy and wind protection while requiring minimal maintenance. This adaptable plant is well-suited to a wide variety of garden styles, from formal topiary to cottage borders, making it an excellent option for both urban and rural landscapes. Whether you’re seeking a hardy hedge, a structural specimen for your garden, or a fast-growing screen, Ligustrum japonicum delivers proven performance and easy care.

Ligustrum 'Rotundifolium'

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Ligustrum 'Rotundifolium' (Japanese Privet) is a hardy evergreen shrub admired for its rounded glossy green leaves and dense compact growth habit. This versatile plant is widely used in NZ gardens for hedging, screening, and formal planting where year round structure and privacy are desired. It responds well to trimming and forms a tidy attractive hedge with minimal effort. Ligustrum 'Rotundifolium' is easy to grow, tolerant of a range of conditions, and highly valued for its reliability, fast growth, and low maintenance nature.

Buy Ligustrum 'Rotundifolium'

From $24.77

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 1.50 m

Spread: 1.00 m

Flowering time: Summer

Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy

Garden uses: Containers, Hedging, Living areas, Pool areas, Topiary

Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Rock

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You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Jasminum, Ligustrum, and Styphnolobium, or related Categories - Evergreen Climbers, Evergreen Shrubs, and Deciduous Trees.

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Growing Ligustrum japonicum in New Zealand Gardens

Ligustrum japonicum thrives in most regions of New Zealand, withstanding coastal winds, urban pollution, and both frost and drought conditions once established. It prefers well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade but tolerates a variety of conditions, making it a practical choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. Regular trimming encourages dense foliage, ideal for creating formal hedges, topiary, or shaped screens. To keep your Ligustrum japonicum looking its best, feed annually in spring and mulch to retain soil moisture and reduce weed competition.

Uses for Ligustrum japonicum

This adaptable shrub is particularly popular for creating quick, attractive privacy screens, windbreaks, or boundary hedges. With its evergreen nature and natural resilience, Ligustrum japonicum is also perfect for urban gardens, where space and privacy are at a premium. Additionally, it can be maintained as a small ornamental tree or shaped into a topiary for a more formal garden look. Its compact growth even makes it suitable for container planting, where its clean lines and glossy leaves add instant impact to patios and entranceways.

Explore variations such as Ligustrum Rotundifolium (Ligustrum japonicum) for a wavy-leafed, compact form perfect for borders, or consider Ligustrum lucidum (Tree Privet) if you need a taller, statelier evergreen for shelter and screening.

Alternatives and Companion Plants

Looking to diversify your planting? Pair your Ligustrum japonicum with fragrant climbers like Jasminum polyanthum (Pink Jasmine), which creates a striking contrast with its scented pink flowers. For hedging variety, consider the traditional Ligustrum vulgare (Common Privet) or the decorative Ligustrum sinense (Chinese Privet), both valued for their classic foliage and robust growth.

Why Choose Ligustrum japonicum for Hedges

When you choose Ligustrum japonicum for your New Zealand garden, you’re investing in a reliable, attractive, and long-lived evergreen shrub that forms excellent hedges and screens. Its tolerance to diverse conditions and low-maintenance nature makes it an ideal solution for busy gardeners or anyone looking to establish a beautiful, functional, and private outdoor space. Browse our range to find the right Ligustrum for your landscaping needs and enjoy year-round greenery with minimal fuss.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

There’s more to explore beyond Ficus benjamina variegata and Azara microphylla — like the subtle beauty of Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood', Hibiscus 'Lady Stanley', and Michelia 'Princess Cinderella'.

–The Plant Company