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Golden Privet Ligustrum x vicaryi

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
lig-GUS-trum vi-KAR-ee-eye
Description

Golden privet is a deciduous sterile hybrid in the Oleaceae (olive) family with golden-yellow foliage. The genus name Ligustrum comes from the Latin word for privet.  It is the first non-invasive privet. It will grow up to 12 feet high and 10 feet wide to provide a privacy screen or hedge.

Plant it in full sun to partial shade in dry to moist soil.  It is tolerant of a variety of soil types and is resistant to drought and deer damage. The leaves change from yellow to chartreuse to reddish in the fall. In the late spring creamy white tubular flowers appear and have a fragrance but not necessarily a pleasant one.  The blue-black fruits remain on the plant.

Use this shrub as a specimen as an informal screen or hedge or in a shrub border.  If it is a hedge be sure to let it keep more of its natural shape as the newer leaves retain the most vibrant yellow color that can be removed with hedge trimmers. When pruning, keep in mind that next year's blossoms will appear on new growth.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  No serious problems,

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Golden Ticket'
    Compact, bright yellow to chartreuse leaves
'Golden Ticket'
Tags:
#evergreen#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#specimen#deciduous shrub#showy leaves#yellow leaves#spring flowers#showy fruits#fast growing#privacy#large shrub#deer resistant#sterile#blue fruits#black fruits#nectar plant late spring#butterfly friendly#malodorous#bee friendly#hedge#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Golden Ticket'
    Compact, bright yellow to chartreuse leaves
'Golden Ticket'
Tags:
#evergreen#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#specimen#deciduous shrub#showy leaves#yellow leaves#spring flowers#showy fruits#fast growing#privacy#large shrub#deer resistant#sterile#blue fruits#black fruits#nectar plant late spring#butterfly friendly#malodorous#bee friendly#hedge#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Ligustrum
    Family:
    Oleaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    hybrid of non-native parents
    Wildlife Value:
    Nectar from flowers attracts bees and butterflies.
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    deer
    Dimensions:
    Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 7 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Multi-stemmed
    Oval
    Rounded
    Vase
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Blue
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Winter
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Description:
    Blue-black berry-like fruit persists into winter.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Description:
    Creamy white tubular flowers appear in late spring on up to 4 inch long pyramidal panicles having an unpleasant odor. No seeds produced.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    up to 2.5 inch long oval golden yellow leaves mature to chartreuse to reddish in the fall. Leaves appear more green in the shade.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Children's Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Hedge
    Mass Planting
    Screen/Privacy
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Problems:
    Malodorous