Plant in sun or light shade and water regularly, occasionally to infrequently. Cold hardy to below 15 degrees F and useful in USDA zones 7b-10. This plant is tolerant of most conditions including saline soils but not particularly good along seashore nor permanently wet situations. It makes a relatively drought tolerant hedge or large screen where close planting and pruning keeps it taller than wide, but out on its own it can become a broader canopied small tree. The musky scented flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies and the fruit to birds, though they are considered poisonous to humans if eaten in quantity.

Ligustrum japonicum is native to central and southern Japan and Korea woods where it grows as a small tree or in thickets in lowland and along hills. The name for the genus originated in Latin as was applied by Pliny the Elder to Ligustrum vulgare. The specific epithet refers to the Japanese origins of this plant. This species has a long history of cultivation in the United State as it was first introduced into southeastern states in 1845 and was first listed by a California nursery in 1884 by R.D. Fox at his Santa Clara Nursery in San Jose, however by this time references note that it had already been planted in the Riverside, California area. We also grow the cultivar Ligustrum japonicum 'Texanum'. 

The information about Ligustrum japonicum displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.