Border Privet

Common Names: border privet, blunt-leaved privet, regal privet, Ibota-Noki, 水蜡 (shuǐ là).
Native Origin: China, Japan; introduced to North America as a common hedge in landscaping.

CARE GUIDE

• very tolerant to full sun and it can also flourish under shade.
• grows very well in almost any sort of moisture retentive soil mix; repot annually if desired.
• very hardy; cold resistant. Border Privet only requires frost protection when temperature drops below -10’C. However, Border Privets that were placed outdoors during winter will shed its leaves relative to the time it has been exposed to colder temperatures. Rest assured that new growth will return quickly following spring. It can also grow relatively well indoors provided humidity levels remained high (use a humidity tray if needed). With that in mind, please take note that Border Privets that has been placed indoors for quite some time will not be as hardy as those that has been acclimatized outdoors to colder temperatures in late Fall and Winter.

PLANT FOOD
Feed nutrients every two weeks during its growing season and reduce feeding frequency to once a month during winter.

PRUNING x SHAPING
Like most Ligustrums, trim and remove leaves/shoots/branches accordingly during the growing season. Should tree require hard pruning, perform extensive pruning before any new growth are noticeable. Hard pruning is best done during Winter until early Spring. Naturally, the same logic can be applied for wiring.

PROPAGATION
I do not have any propagation experience. But I have read that Ligustrums in general can be propagated via cuttings, grafting, and seed. According to specialists from the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, “Selections must be propagated by cuttings or grafting to maintain the desired leaf and growth characteristics. Softwood and spring hardwood cuttings of most ligustrums root easily. About eight weeks are required for rooting. Glossy privet may be difficult to root at times. Actively growing terminal cuttings root best.”

PESTS x DISEASES
According to the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida:

“Aphids, scales, whiteflies, and spidermites commonly attack ligustrums. Aphids or plant lice are small, soft-bodied insects that usually attack young, tender growth at the shoot tip. They suck plant juices and can cause new leaves to curl. Aphids are green, reddish, or black. Insecticides should be applied when populations begin to build and before the leaves curl.

Many different kinds of scale attack these ornamentals. Most scale insects attach themselves to leaf undersurfaces and stems soon after hatching and rarely move from their initial feeding site. Scale insects feed by inserting a tiny beak into the plant and sucking plant juices. Inspect plants thoroughly, since scale infestations occur on the undersurfaces of the older leaves first. Spray applications are most effective on small populations of young scales. Egg hatch is closely correlated with the spring flush of new growth. Infested plants should be sprayed after the new growth hardens.

Whitefly adults are small, white winged insects that are readily seen flying about when plant foliage is shaken. The small larvae found on the leaf undersurface are flat, circular, nearly translucent discs. New hatchings of whitefly eggs usually occur in March-April, June-July, and September-October. Two insecticide applications should be applied 10-14 days apart for control.

Spidermites are extremely small and multiply rapidly on leaf undersurfaces. Severe injury can easily occur before spidermites are detected. Injury appears as a bronzing or rust discoloration of the upper leaf surface. Spidermite infections can be verified by placing a white paper beneath the leaves and tapping foliage. The fallen mites can be seen on the paper as small, moving red or brown specks. Two miticide applications five to seven days apart will provide acceptable control.

Nematodes are damaging pests on ligustrum. They are small microscopic round worms that attack plant roots. Large populations damage root systems, reducing plant growth, increasing wilting, and causing nutrient deficiency symptoms, leaf drop, and ultimately death. Attacked roots may form galls, stubby roots, or lesions. Control measures on established plants are limited. Plants grafted on Ligustrum quihoui are resistant to nematode attack.

Leaf spot and root rot diseases attack ligustrum. Leaf spot fungi attack leaves and can cause premature leaf drop. The disease spots are usually light to dark brown with a yellow border. Control measures include destroying infected leaves and applying fungicide. Both are necessary for control.

Ligustrum root rot can be caused by several disease organisms. Infected plants may become unhealthy, making little growth, and/or part or all the plant will suddenly wilt and die. Examination of the root system reveals few if any remaining healthy, white functional roots. No control measures are effective once the plant is infected.”