I received an email from listener Libby after Sunday’s GardenLine show asking why I could bash ligustrums one day, then recommend them the next. Here’s how I answered:
“Libby, I understand your confusion, but we are talking about two different plants. Yes, I still detest the standard wax leaf ligustrum (Ligustrum japonicum), but I highly recommend the sunshine ligustrum, (Ligustrum sinense 'Sunshine').
So, prompted by Libby’s question, here’s a closer look.
You’ve probably seen sunshine ligustrum – they’re wonderful plants with very yellow, yellow, yellow leaves. And the best part is, you get to keep those yellow leaves year-round. They never seem to rest, and they thrive in full sun or filtered light. I have not seen them do very well in deep shade, but that’s about the only negative thing I can say about them. And while you can certainly prune or shape them any way you want, you can also just leave them the heck alone.
And I wasn’t kidding about the sunshine ligustrum’s year-round abilities. When other yellow-leafed plants succumb to our occasional freezes (Cuban golden duranta, for example), the sunshine ligustrum doesn’t bat an eye. And during cold spells, you’ll see them shift from bright yellow to a more golden color. So, as other plants drop into a drab existence December through February, the sunshine ligustrum’s gold-colored leaves provide the landscape with some welcome cheerfulness.
As spring nears, the sunshine ligustrum will set a whole bunch of new leaves that have a tinge of green. I can assure you, though, they will turn bright yellow again as things warm up and the days grow longer.
Here are several other benefits of sunshine ligustrums in your landscape:
- It’s non-invasive, so it won’t spread or overcrowd.
- It doesn’t really flower, so it’s great for allergy sufferers.
- It contrasts amazingly well with any green-leafed plant.
- It’s great shrubbery for use along a winding path - more colorfully than boxwoods and without their diseases.
- It can add a splash of color in containers, instead of annuals or perennials.
PHOTOS: Randy Lemmon