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

sunshine ligustrum

Bring vibrant colour and year-round interest to your New Zealand garden with sunshine ligustrum. This standout shrub, known for its luminous golden-yellow foliage, is beloved for its low maintenance, versatility, and non-invasive nature compared to traditional privets. Whether you want to form a bright hedge, highlight borders, or add a pop of colour to your landscaping, sunshine ligustrum could be the perfect plant for your needs.

Ligustrum 'Rotundifolium'

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.

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

Ligustrum ovalifolium 'Aureum'

Ligustrum ovalifolium 'Aureum' (Golden Privet) is a bright evergreen shrub valued for its golden yellow and green variegated foliage. Well suited to New Zealand gardens, it provides year round colour and strong structure.

Buy Ligustrum ovalifolium 'Aureum'

From $24.77

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 3.00 m

Spread: 3.00 m

Flowering time: Spring

Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy

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

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

Why Choose Sunshine Ligustrum?

Sunshine ligustrum offers spectacular yellow leaves that illuminate gardens through every season. Unlike older privet varieties, this modern cultivar is sterile and will not set seed, keeping it safe for use in New Zealand without risk of spreading. Because of its dense growth and manageable size (typically 1 to 1.5 metres high and wide), it’s a fantastic option for formal or casual hedges, mass plantings, and containers.

Sunshine ligustrum tolerates full sun and partial shade, but its best colour comes with lots of sunshine. It’s appreciated by gardeners who want a foliage plant that delivers beauty with minimal fuss. The shrub is drought-tolerant once established and resistant to many pests and diseases, making it a trouble-free choice for a busy landscape.

Planting and Caring for Sunshine Ligustrum

To get the best results from your sunshine ligustrum, choose a sunny or lightly shaded position with free-draining soil. Dig in some compost before planting, and mulch well to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Water young plants regularly to help them establish, especially during dry periods. Once mature, these shrubs need very little care but will reward you with stunning foliage all year.

Prune once or twice a year to maintain your desired shape and promote bushier growth. Because sunshine ligustrum doesn’t flower significantly, you won’t have to worry about deadheading. If you’re looking for a hassle-free shrub with brilliant colour, this one is hard to beat.

How Sunshine Ligustrum Compares to Other Ligustrum Varieties

If you’re interested in growing privet relatives, you might also enjoy exploring these popular options:

Ligustrum vulgare (Common Privet) is the classic choice for dense hedges, known for fast growth and reliability.
Ligustrum Rotundifolium (Ligustrum japonicum) stands out for its rounded, glossy leaves and compact size.
Ligustrum sinense (Chinese Privet) is valued for its lush foliage and hedge performance.
Ligustrum ovalifolium 'Aureum' offers variegated gold and green leaves much like sunshine ligustrum, providing a striking contrast in the garden.
Ligustrum lucidum (Tree Privet) can serve as a larger screening tree in expansive spaces.