Ligustrum texanum

Call/Email For Price

About this item

• Ligustrum japonicum Texanum’ (Waxleaf Privet) – This variety of Ligustrum japonicum is a slower-growing and shorter option, typically reaching a height of around 9 feet, although it is often smaller. It is an evergreen shrub that is dense and compact, featuring thick, rounded, waxy leaves that are glossy green on top and a lighter green underneath. In late spring to early summer, fragrant white flowers bloom, attracting bees, and are followed by blue-black berries. This plant can be cultivated in full sun or light shade and should be watered regularly, but it can tolerate occasional dry periods. It is hardy to temperatures below 15 degrees Fahrenheit and is suitable for USDA zones 7b-10. Waxleaf Privet makes an excellent choice for hedges and can be shaped as desired with minimal maintenance. However, caution is necessary during pruning; using shears can damage the durable leaves, which will remain visible on the plant. It is best to prune with cuts to the stems rather than shearing the leaves if the plants will be viewed up close. Unlike the species, Waxleaf Privet is more compact, with blunter-tipped leaves that are darker green, thicker, and stiffer. The leaves are so resilient that they crack rather than fold when bent. The origins of this cultivar are somewhat unclear, but it is believed to have been selected from somewhere in Texas. Correspondence suggests that it may have originated from Otto Martin Locke Nursery in New Braunfels, Texas. This nursery was founded in the late 1920s, with its predecessor, Comal Springs Nursery, established in the late 19th century by Otto Martin Locke Sr. The first nursery in the area was operated by his father, Johann Joseph Locke, an immigrant from Prussia, prior to the Civil War. Another possible origin is Aldridge Nursery, which has been in operation in nearby Atascosa since 1939. We remain curious about the origins of this plant, as it is widely used as a hedge plant in California, and we welcome any additional information on it. We’ve cultivated it at our nursery since we opened in 1979, and it appears in the 1954 edition of the *Sunset Western Garden Book*. This early mention supports the legitimacy of the Latinized cultivar name ‘Texanum,’ as the rules prohibiting such names in the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants were established only in 1959. The information presented on this page regarding Ligustrum japonicum ‘Texanum’ is based on research from our nursery’s horticultural library, as well as various reliable online resources. It also includes our personal observations of the plant as it grows in our gardens and the performance of crops in our nursery field. We welcome comments and insights from others, especially those providing cultural information that can help others grow this plant more effectively.