Chinese Privet Plant Care

Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense) belongs to the Oleaceae family within the Ligustrum genus. Chinese Privet is native to China, Taiwan and Vietnam, and invasive in Réunion, the Andaman Islands, Norfolk Island, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama and much of the eastern and southern United States. Chinese Privet is also known as Chinese Waxleaf Privet.

Chinese Privet displays an upright, dense shrub growth habit, reaching up to 10 ft tall with a spread of approximately 8 ft. Chinese Privet produces small white clusters in late spring to early summer.

Leaf size: approximately 2 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Chinese Privet every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Chinese Privet thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Ligustrum sinense tolerates temperatures of 50–85°F. Chinese Privet prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Chinese Privet to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Chinese Privet every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Chinese Privet is suited to USDA Zone 7a – 9b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Chinese Privet can spread to about 8 ft (2.4 m) and reach about 10 ft (3 m) tall. Space plants about 8 ft (2.4 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Chinese Privet while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Chinese Privet is hardy down to USDA zone 7a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown trees need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Chinese Privet can be propagated through seeds, semi-hardwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to common privet plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Chinese Privet is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Chinese Privet grows outdoors in USDA Zone 7a – 9b. It survives winters down to planting zone 7a. Chinese Privet is native to China, Taiwan and Vietnam, and invasive in Réunion, the Andaman Islands, Norfolk Island, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama and much of the eastern and southern United States.