Ligustrum delavayanum - Privet

Ligustrum delavayanum is a botany bush of Chinese origin that is sometimes called Yunnan bush. It is cultivated for its small foliage, which is very dense and shiny green, and its excellent ability to withstand repeated pruning, allowing its shape to be moulded according to the desires of each gardener. This ramified bush is impressive when it grows freely in a dense mass, forming a superb dome wider than it is tall. Its sweet-smelling and fragrant summer flowering gives way to blue-black berries that delight birds in winter. It is easy to grow in ordinary but well-drained soil, but in our cold regions it requires a sheltered position to protect it from biting cold, as its average hardiness is one of its few weaknesses. 

The Yunnan bush belongs to the Oleaceae family, just like olive trees, forsythias and jasmines. It is native, as its name suggests, to the Chinese province of Yunnan, but also to Burma. In nature, it most often grows on moist, fertile, loamy-sandy or sandy-clay soils. However, it is very tolerant, supporting slightly acidic, neutral, or even strongly limestone or salt-impregnated soils. It has a trailing root system, so voracious that it is often impossible to grow other plants at its base. When not pruned, this bush has a naturally compact, slightly spreading habit. It will slowly reach an average height of 1.8m (6ft) with a 2m (7ft) spread. Its flexible, slender branches tend to entangle and bear very small evergreen leaves, which are simple, opposite, elliptical in shape, and a fairly dark green with a glossy finish. Flowering takes place in late spring or summer, from May to July depending on the climate, in the form of fragrant terminal panicles composed of small tube-shaped flowers, which are white with a purple tinge. The flowers are popular with pollinating insects. The flowers are followed by the formation of small fruits called drupes, which turn black-blue when ripe.

This modern but timeless bush is easy-going and does not suffer from geometric pruning, or more or less artistic pruning. Ideal for gardeners lacking inspiration, and valued for bringing a precise, orderly, reassuring note to the structure of the garden, it has the advantage of bringing a little luxuriance and life to neglected areas. Perfect for topiary art, it will attract attention for a good part of the year with its flowering, fruits and foliage that have a lot of character, while preserving the garden from prying eyes and sheltering many small animals that are useful to the garden. It can be honoured by letting it grow freely, in a grove of humble but very useful bushes with colourful foliage and fruiting, such as viburnum, cotoneaster, pyracantha, holly, eleagnus, deciduous or evergreen euonymus, laburnum, viburnum, and bay laurel. Be inspired!