Plant Library

Other Names:  Waxleaf Privet

Description:

An attractive shrub with waxy, pointed leaves that are dark green and glossy; the shrub has been shaped into a spiral creating an accent that is quite beautiful; a profusion of white flowers in spring

Ornamental Features

Texanum Japanese Privet (spiral form) features showy panicles of fragrant white flowers at the ends of the branches in mid spring. It has dark green evergreen foliage. The glossy pointy leaves remain dark green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Texanum Japanese Privet (spiral form) is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a narrowly upright and columnar growth habit. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Texanum Japanese Privet (spiral form) is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Topiary
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Texanum Japanese Privet (spiral form) will grow to be about 7 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.

Texanum Japanese Privet (spiral form) makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.