Japanese Privet Vs. Chinese Privet

( Japanese Privet, Ligustrum japonicum: jpeg found at Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons)




   Japanese Privet (Ligustrum Japonicum) is found throughout the southeastern United States. They flourish through the state of Alabama. Late May through June they have showy clusters of white blossoms unlike the Chinese Privet that wakes it's blossoms in March through April. 


    Chinese Privet is a lighter green leaf in clusters. The leaves of the Japanese Privet are shiney large leaves with a trim of yellow on the edges. The Chinese Privet is more like a shrub than the Japanese Privet which grows into a fairly large tree. You will notice that this plant grows larger in Japan because it's more tropical than Alabama.  They grow really fast and take on large limbs and a habitat for small birds, anoles, moths, butterflies, bugs and much more. The silk tree or Mimosa has the same characteristics in growth. As long as there is plenty of room to root and sun outside the plant will take root and spread it's branches to the sky showing off beautiful flower clusters and shiny leaves.
  
     The Japanese Privet is an evergreen unlike the Chinese Privet. The flowering tree gets large pretty leaves all year long. If you like butterflies, you will love this plant. It attracts beautiful butterflies for all likes. Most of them are small but you will see swallowtails, monarchs, viceroys and miami blues.