Ligustrum sinense Sunshine - Chinese Privet

Ligustrum sinense 'Sunshine' is a truly bright Chinese privet, with small yellow leaves that persist more or less in winter. Its moderate growth and dense vegetation make this bush an excellent candidate for creating a low, informal or trimmed hedge. A white and honey-scented summer flowering adds to its charm, as well as small dark berries that persist on the plant throughout winter. Easy to grow and requiring very little maintenance, it tolerates coastal conditions well, although it is not the most cold-hardy: it is best suited to milder regions. In cooler climates, gardeners can plant it in a container on a terrace, protecting it from heavy winter frosts.

Ligustrum sinense 'Sunshine' belongs to the Oleaceae family, just like lilacs and forsythias. Its ancestor is native to the warm temperate and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia and the Far East (China, Vietnam, Laos). It is a small bushy shrub, pleasantly tousled. It often grows in a clump, meaning that several stems emerge directly from the stump. Its growth is quite rapid, reaching about 2m (7ft) in height and 1.5m (5ft) in width if left unpruned.

Its brown branches bear opposite, entire, ovate leaves with undulate edges, measuring 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in length and 2cm (1in) in width. They persist throughout winter in mild climates. Flowering occurs in July, earlier or later depending on the region. At the ends of the year's shoots, compound panicles of tiny white-cream tubular flowers appear, which may not be pleasing to some humans but attract many pollinating insects. These flowers give way to small, deep blue-black berries, provided no pruning is done after flowering. Note that all parts of the privet are toxic to humans if ingested. Moderately hardy, this Chinese privet can withstand short frosts of around -10°C (14°F) once established. It adapts to a wide range of soils, including relatively deep and even limestone soils, and tolerates summer drought relatively well.

The privet hides some treasures among the approximately 50 species that make up the genus. 'Sunshine' Chinese Privet is easy to care for and valued for adding a precise, organised, and sunny touch to the structure of the garden or terrace; it will draw attention for a good part of the year with its beautiful yellow foliage, buzzing bee-filled flowering, and clustered fruits. It can be used for large borders and dense hedges with compact photinias and compact Elaeagnus, for example, but it can also be allowed to grow freely in a shrub bed with deutzias, berberis, white or Japanese spireas, and Mexican orange shrubs. This privet is perfect for topiary, both in the ground and in pots.