What are the Sunlight Requirements of a California Privet?

Identification

• Originally native to Japan, California privet has a compact oval or rounded shape and typically grows to about 5 feet with pruning, though it is capable of reaching heights of 15 feet or more. The leaves are oval-shaped, glossy and gray-green with white margins. California privet blooms in summer with clusters of small yellow flowers that have a strong odor. As a semi-evergreen shrub, California privet usually retains most of its foliage year-round, but is more likely to shed its leaves in cooler climates.

Sunlight

• California privet requires full sun to partial shade; it can flourish equally in both, but it will not thrive in a location that is fully shaded for all or most of the day. Consider the location of trees, your house and other structures that may cast a shadow when you choose a location for California privet, but don't worry too much about small amounts of shade.

Other Growing Conditions

• A wide range of soil types can support California privet, and this shrub can tolerate soils ranging from highly alkaline to highly acidic, so pH is not a major concern. Ideally the soil should be moist but well-drained, so avoid areas with wet, waterlogged soil, but sand and clay are both acceptable. Spring and fall are the best times to plant California privet, allowing the shrub to become well-established under mild conditions before exposure to extreme summer heat or winter cold.

Considerations

• Because it grows quickly -- up to 36 inches in a single year -- California privet requires frequent shearing to maintain it as a hedge. Its popularity in hedge plantings is in part due to its leaves, which are more likely to stay green year-round than those of other privet species. Once established, this shrub can be difficult to get rid of, and it is considered invasive in a few eastern states including Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia and North Carolina; it is on the watchlist in California. An alternative plant is Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum), which thrives in USDA zones 7 through 10.