Ligustrum sinense Chinese privet

Ligustrum sinense, NW corner of Toyon Hall. John Rawlings, 15 May 2007

The most graceful, and rare, of the locally seen privets. A deciduous nondescript shrub, it bursts into bloom in May. White clusters of flowers are neatly arranged on either side of the arching branches, in more or less a horizontal plane. It is invasive in the southeastern US but not in California.

See two small trees tucked behind the round bay on the left of Toyon Hall; a smaller pruned example is near the driveway. A tall, full shrub is on the left in front of Bolivar House. At Kingscote Gardens, one peeks out of the shrubbery along the driveway near the Thuja plicata. Smaller shrubs are behind 593 Alvarado Road, where one of the branches of Cowell Lane enters Lane C.

Name derivation: Ligustrum – Latin ligulare, to tie, in reference to the use made of the flexible shoots; sinense – Chinese.