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Products > Ligustrum japonicum 'Texanum'   Ligustrum japonicum 'Texanum' - Waxleaf Privet       Habit and Cultural Information Category: Shrub Family: Oleaceae (Olives) Origin: Japan (Asia) Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: White Bloomtime: Spring/Summer Height: 6-8 feet Width: 4-6 feet Exposure: Sun or Shade Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs Winter Hardiness: <15° F May be Poisonous  (More Info): Yes Ligustrum japonicum 'Texanum' (Waxleaf Privet) - This is a lower and slower growing variety of the species, as it only reaches 9 feet tall but is typically smaller. It is an evergreen dense, compact shrub with thick, round, waxy leaves that are glossy green above and whitish underneath. Fragrant bee-attracting white flowers bloom in late spring to early summer and then are followed by blue-black berries. Plant in sun or light shade and water regularly. Hardy to below 15 degrees F and useful in USDA zones 7b-10. It is a good hedge candidate and can be trained to nearly any shape but care should be used when pruning using shears as the cut leaves remain on the plant so it is better to be pruned and not sheared if plants are to be viewed not in the distance. The origins of this cultivar are a bit of a mystery, although one would presume it was selected from somewhere in Texas. We have grown it at our nursery since we opened our gates in 1979 and it is listed as early as 1954 in that year's edition of the Sunset Western Garden Book. This early listing legitimizes the use of the Latinized cultivar name 'Texanum' since the rules prohibiting this, outlined in the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants, did not come about until 1959, but we are still quite curious about where it came from and who actually named it. For more information on the species, see our listing for the species at Ligustrum japonicum.  The information on this page is based on our library and online research, as well as from observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in the nursery's garden and in other gardens that we have visited. We have also incorporated comments received from others, and always appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have some additional information, particularly if this information is contrary to what we have written or includes additional cultural tips that would aid others in growing Ligustrum japonicum 'Texanum'.