Wax leaf privet Ligustrum quihoui

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The plant commonly known as Wax-leaf Privet is characterized by its glossy, deep green leaves which are oval-shaped with a pointed tip, giving the plant a very lush appearance. Its leaves are arranged oppositely on the branches, creating a dense and ordered look. During the blooming season, it produces clusters of small white flowers that are quite fragrant, attracting bees and other pollinators. These flowers are arranged in panicles, which means they form a branched cluster. After the flowering period, the plant bears small, round berries that change from green to a dark, bluish-black as they mature. The overall shape of the plant is rounded to somewhat vase-shaped, contributing to its popularity as a hedging or ornamental garden plant. The plant's bark is typically smooth with a grayish color that contrasts nicely with the foliage.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Synonyms
  Wax-Leaf Privet, Quihoui Privet, Chinese Privet.
- Common names
  Ligustrum quihoui var. microphyllum, Ligustrum microphyllum
Toxicity
- To humans
  The most common common name for Ligustrum quihoui is Wax-leaf Privet. This plant is considered mildly toxic to humans if ingested. Consumption of parts of the plant, particularly the berries, can lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. In some cases, if large quantities are consumed, more severe symptoms might occur, including respiratory issues or convulsions. It is advisable to seek medical attention if ingestion occurs and symptoms present.
- To pets
  Wax-leaf Privet is also toxic to pets, including dogs and cats. If pets ingest parts of this plant, they may experience symptoms such as gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, diarrhea, and potentially more severe reactions depending on the amount ingested and the sensitivity of the individual animal. It is important to prevent pets from accessing and consuming this plant, and to contact a veterinarian immediately if you suspect your pet has ingested any part of it.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Semi-deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  White
- Height
  4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 meters)
- Spread
  4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 meters)
- Plant type
  Shrub
- Hardiness zones
  7
- Native area
  China

Benefits

General Benefits
- Landscape Enhancement: Widely used as an ornamental plant due to its dense foliage and ability to form hedges and screens.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, it has a high tolerance for drought, making it suitable for regions with water scarcity.
- Low-Maintenance: Requires minimal care and pruning, appealing for low-maintenance gardens and landscapes.
- Year-Round Interest: Evergreen nature provides greenery throughout the year, adding consistent visual appeal to gardens.
- Privacy Screen: Often used to create privacy screens, due to its dense growth habit.
- Erosion Control: Can help stabilize soil and prevent erosion on slopes and banks due to its root structure.
- Wildlife Attraction: Can attract birds and beneficial insects, adding biodiversity to the garden.
- Shade Provider: Grows to form a thick canopy which can provide shade in garden settings.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Wax production: The berries of the Wax-leaf Ligustrum can be used to produce a natural wax that might be utilized in making candles or polishes.
- Fabric dye: The berries can also be crushed to produce a dye for fabric, giving a range of blue and purple hues depending upon the mordant used.
- Woodworking: The wood of the Wax-leaf Ligustrum is hard and fine-grained, making it useful for small woodworking projects such as carving or for use in inlays.
- Landscape design: Due to its dense foliage, it can be used in topiary to create living sculptures in gardens and parks.
- Erosion control: Its extensive root system makes it ideal for stabilizing slopes and preventing soil erosion.
- Privacy screens: Because it grows thickly and can be easily shaped, the Wax-leaf Ligustrum is used to create privacy hedges or living screens.
- Wildlife shelter: The dense branches and foliage provide shelter for small birds and other wildlife within landscaped environments.
- Noise reduction: When planted in rows, the Wax-leaf Ligustrum can act as a natural sound barrier, helping to reduce noise pollution.
- Festive decor: The foliage and berries can be used to create holiday decorations such as wreaths and garlands.
- Culinary exploration: While not commonly used for consumption, the flowers have been explored for their potential use in flavoring honey when bees have access to them.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Wax-leaf Privet is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Wax-leaf Privet is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Protection: As a member of the privet family, the Wax-leaf Privet (most common name for Ligustrum quihoui) is often used in hedges and borders, symbolizing a protective barrier or a boundary.
- Privacy: Its dense foliage makes it ideal for creating private spaces, representing the concept of shielding oneself from outside interference or gaze.
- Resilience: The Wax-leaf Privet is known for its hardiness and ability to thrive in various conditions, signifying resilience and adaptability.
- Purity: In some cultures, privets are associated with cleansing and purity due to their bright foliage and use in formal gardens, symbolizing the desire for clean starts or purification.
- Renewal: The plant's propensity for rapid growth and recovery when trimmed is often seen as a symbol of renewal and regrowth.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Wax-leaf privet should be watered moderately, ensuring the soil is moist but not waterlogged. During the growing season, watering once a week with approximately 1-2 gallons for established plants is usually sufficient. Young or newly planted wax-leaf privets may require more frequent watering, such as every three to four days, to establish their root systems. During hot, dry periods, additional water may be necessary. In winter, reduce watering frequency to when the soil is dry to the touch, as the plant's water needs decrease.
Light
Wax-leaf privet thrives best in full sun to partial shade. Planting it in a spot that receives at least four to six hours of direct sunlight each day is ideal. However, it can tolerate some shade, especially in the hotter parts of the day. Providing appropriate light ensures healthy growth and optimal foliage density.
Temperature
Wax-leaf privet is adaptable to a range of temperatures but grows best in conditions between 40 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. It can survive minimum temperatures down to about 10 degrees Fahrenheit but may suffer damage if exposed to colder extremes. Ideal conditions for this privet include a temperate climate without prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures.
Pruning
Prune wax-leaf privet to shape and maintain desired size, ideally in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. It can also be pruned in summer if necessary. Periodic thinning out of older branches improves air circulation and light penetration to the center of the plant. Pruning frequency depends on the growth rate and the desired formality of the hedge or shrub; some may prune twice a year for a formal shape.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Wax-leaf privet thrives in well-drained, loamy soil with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.5. An ideal soil mix would contain equal parts garden soil, compost, and coarse sand or perlite to ensure proper drainage and fertility.
Repotting
Wax-leaf privet should be repotted every 2 to 3 years or when its growth appears to be stunted. Choose a pot that is 2 inches larger in diameter than the current one to allow for growth.
Humidity & Misting
Wax-leaf privet prefers moderate humidity levels but is quite adaptable. It grows best in 40% to 60% relative humidity, typical of indoor environments.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright indirect light, moderate watering, and good airflow.
- Outdoor
  Plant in sun to partial shade, shelter from strong winds.
- Hardiness zone
  7-10 USDA
Life cycle
The life cycle of Ligustrum quihoui, commonly known as Wax-leaf Privet, begins with seed germination, where the seed requires warm moist conditions to sprout. As a seedling, it establishes a root system and begins to develop its characteristic glossy evergreen foliage. The young plant then enters a vegetative growth phase, where it focuses on leaf and stem development to reach maturity. Once mature, Wax-leaf Privet exhibits rapid growth and can start to flower in spring or early summer, producing small white fragrant blossoms that attract pollinators like bees. Following pollination, the plant develops small, dark purple berries, which are dispersed by birds and other animals, enabling the spread of seeds for new plant colonization. Finally, the adult plant will continue this reproductive cycle annually while it grows and may live for many years with proper care and favorable conditions.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Wax-leaf privet (Ligustrum quihoui) is often propagated through semi-hardwood cuttings. This technique is typically done during late summer to early fall when the new growth has matured and the stems are slightly firm yet still flexible. Cuttings of about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) long are taken from healthy plants, cutting just below a leaf node. The lower leaves are removed, and the cut end may be dipped in rooting hormone to encourage root growth. The cutting is then planted in a moist potting mix, and a plastic bag can be placed over the container to maintain humidity. Rooting can take several weeks, after which the new plant can be transplanted into the garden or a larger pot.