Privet Is Shiny

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Privet brilliant (lat. Ligustrum lucidum) - decorative and medicinal shrub; a representative of the genus Privet of the Olive family. Natural area - Korea, China and Japan.

Characteristics of culture

Shiny privet is a shade-tolerant and unpretentious evergreen shrub or a small tree up to 6 in height with a wide spreading crown. The foliage is large, shiny, dark green in color, oblong-ovoid, the edges are curled up. On the reverse side, the leaves are lighter, sometimes have a yellowish or greenish tint.

The flowers are fragrant, white, almost sessile, collected in loose paniculate inflorescences, which reach 15-18 cm in length. Fruits are spherical or ovoid, small, dark blue, not used for food by humans. The privet blooms brilliantly in early summer for several months, depending on climatic conditions. The species is decorative and attractive due to evergreen foliage, fragrant flowers and numerous fruits.

Unlike other representatives of the genus, glittering privet has a long flowering, which allows the plant to be used to decorate personal backyards, alleys, city parks and gardens. Its use is multifaceted, it is suitable for creating hedges and group plantings. In addition, the species in question lends itself well to haircuts, which means that it can be used to create various shapes. In any case, shiny privet looks great.

It should be noted that today the species has several forms that are distinguished by a special decorative effect, these include:

* f. tricolor (tricolor) - the form is represented by large shrubs, the foliage of which changes color from pink to variegated;

* f. aureo-marginata (golden-bordered) - the form is characterized by large shrubs with leaves that have a yellow border along the edge;

* f. aureo-variegata (golden variegated) - the form is represented by shrubs with yellow variegated foliage.

Forms are more demanding on growing conditions; in order to obtain bright and rich foliage, it is necessary to provide plants with moderate watering and feeding. Soils are preferable fertile, moist, loose, air and water permeable. Dry, swampy and heavy soils will negatively affect the decorative effect of shrubs.

Shiny privet is perfect for urban greening, it is gas and smoke resistant. Its only drawback is insufficient winter hardiness, it can withstand frosts not lower than -15C, therefore, the cultivation of this type of privet and its decorative forms in central Russia is not possible. It is recommended to grow the culture in the southern regions of the country.

Application

Privet brilliant is actively used not only in ornamental gardening, but also in medicine. Nowadays, a number of dietary supplements are presented on the market, in the creation of which fruits of this type are used. And this is not at all surprising, because even in ancient times, the Chinese and Japanese used the healing powers of the plant to strengthen the immune system.

The thing is that the fruits contain oleic acid - the main component, which has tonic properties. Supplements containing glittering privet strengthen the immune system and blood vessels, restore kidney and liver function, improve vision, relieve pain and weakness in the knees and lower back, and prevent early graying of hair.

Care

For plants to actively develop and bloom profusely, it is important to systematically water the plants, especially in the absence of rainfall for a long time. Possible rare (up to 5-6 times per season), but abundant watering at the rate of 30-35 liters per 1 sq. m. If the soil at the foot of the shrub begins to crack strongly, additional watering is carried out, otherwise the plant will lag behind in growth and will not have time to prepare for next winter, and even slight frosts will lead to not very pleasant consequences.

Privet brilliant responds positively to fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. They should be carried out in early spring, the calculation is as follows: potash fertilizers (10-15 g per 1 sq. M), phosphorus fertilizers (10-15 g per 1 sq. M) and nitrogen fertilizers (10 g per 1 sq. M). If fertilization was not possible in the spring, you can postpone the procedure to autumn. On acidic soils, lime is additionally added, since plants cannot tolerate increased acidity, it can cause a grayish spot to appear on the foliage. Also, the culture requires organic fertilizers, they can significantly increase the fertility of the soil, and, therefore, accelerate the growth of shrubs.

Weeding and loosening play an important role in the care of shiny privet. Loosening is carried out systematically, this procedure is necessary to improve aeration. Mulching is also useful; this operation is carried out in mid-spring, after the soil has warmed up. Mulch protects plant roots from overheating, rapid evaporation of moisture and weeds. As mentioned, glittery privet easily tolerates any trims and haircuts. Pruning allows you to form a beautiful densely branched crown and give the shrubs a pleasant appearance.