• Photo of Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum' (Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum's)

Plant Profile: Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum'

Names

Variegated Chinese Privet, Variegated Privet

  • Photo of Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum' (Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum's)

Phonetic Spelling:li-GUS-trum sy-NEN-see var-ee-GAY-tum

Genus:Ligustrum

Species:sinense

Family:Oleaceae

Variegated Privet is a shrub that can be either evergreen or semi-evergreen, typically reaching heights and widths of 6 to 10 feet. Its striking creamy white and green foliage makes it an ideal choice for accenting gardens or creating hedges. For optimal leaf coloration, it thrives best in full sunlight. This plant blooms in late spring, but its flowers emit an unpleasant odor that many find off-putting. Known for its rapid growth, it quickly develops into a dense thicket. Additionally, it demonstrates resilience against pollution and alkaline conditions, shows some tolerance to shade, and can thrive in less-than-ideal soil.

**Quick Identification Tips:**

**Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Issues:** The leaves and berries of the privet can pose health risks to dogs if ingested. It is also susceptible to various pests. Its vigorous growth can lead to high maintenance requirements, making it challenging to manage within a landscape.

For further details, refer to information on Ligustrum sinense.

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum' Feature Summary

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum' Image Gallery

Tags

#white
#evergreen
#yellow
#green
#shrub
#weed
#white leaves
#yellow-green
#shade tolerant
#toxic
#variegated leaves
#accent plant
#high maintenance
#hedges
#fast growing
#aggressive
#spring interest
#fantz
#evergreen shrub
#poor soils tolerant
#green leaves

Similar Plants

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum' Feature Summary

Fruit
Fruits are berry-like drupes that are less than an inch in size and toxic.
< 1 inch
Flowers
Flowers are white, fetid, and 1/3" long. They grow on terminal panicles that are 2.5"-4" long in the spring.
Leaves
The 1-3 inch long oval leaves are green with gray to creamy white borders. They are opposite, simple and margins are entire.
Broadleaf Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Green
Variegated
Cream/Tan
Elliptical
Ovate
Oblong
1-3 inches
< 1 inch
Stem
Stems are pubescent with gray-yellow coloration.
Gray/Silver
Gold/Yellow
Hairy (pubescent)
Whole Plant Traits
Broadleaf Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Arching
Multi-stemmed
Erect
Spreading
Weeping
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Pollution
Poor Soil
Heavy Shade
Problem for Dogs
Weedy
Malodorous

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum' Attributes

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Country Or Region Of Origin

Asia

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum' Fruit

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Fruit Description

Fruits are berry-like drupes that are less than an inch in size and toxic.

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum' Flowers

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Flower Description

Flowers are white, fetid, and 1/3" long. They grow on terminal panicles that are 2.5"-4" long in the spring.

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Flower Color

filter_vintage
White

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum' Leaves

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Leaf Description

The 1-3 inch long oval leaves are green with gray to creamy white borders. They are opposite, simple and margins are entire.

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Leaf Color

spa
Cream/Tan
spa
Green
spa
Variegated

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum' Stem

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Stem Description

Stems are pubescent with gray-yellow coloration.

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Stem Color

grass
Gold/Yellow
grass
Gray/Silver

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Stem Surface

Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum' Whole Plant Traits

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum' Cultural Conditions

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum' Landscape

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Ligustrum sinense 'Variegatum': Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy