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 displayed on this page about Ligustrum japonicum is based on the research we have conducted about it in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about this plant as it grows in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant have performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we have received from others and welcome hearing from anyone with information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information that will aid others to better grow it.