Japanese name: ヨウシュイボタ（洋種水蝋） Scientific name:Ligustrum vulgare
[Overview]
A deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub about 3 m tall.
It branches well, and the young branches and flower stalks have fine hairs.
Leaves are simple and opposite, lanceolate to narrowly elliptical, 2–6 cm long and 0.5–1.5 cm wide, thin, with entire margins.
Panicles 3–6 cm long are produced at the branch tips.
The flowers are white, 0.4–0.6 cm across; the corolla is 4-lobed and has a distinctive fragrance.
The fruit is an elliptical-globose berry 0.6–0.8 cm in diameter, ripening blackish purple.
[History]
It was introduced to Japan at the end of the Meiji era.
[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by cuttings.
It prefers fertile soil in a sunny, well-drained site, but grows well without being particular about soil.
It tolerates shade, but flowers poorly if the site is not sunny enough.
It is hardy and easy to grow.
Watering is unnecessary unless sunny weather continues in midsummer and the soil becomes severely dry.
Fertilizer is not particularly necessary either, but depending on growth, apply a small amount of oil cake as fertilizer in winter.
It also tolerates pruning well.
Pests and diseases include the ibota scale insect.
