Chinese privet

Chinese privet grows fast, backbuds reliably from old wood, and tolerates aggressive pruning better than almost any broadleaf evergreen here — useful for a grower building structure quickly, less useful for anyone wanting a tree that holds still between sessions. Small white flowers appear if a season's growth is left unclipped.

Care at a glance

Watering

Check daily in growing season; keep evenly moist. Roughly every 2 days in spring, 2 in summer, 3 in autumn and 6 in winter.

Light

Full sun to light shade.

Winter

Hardy once established; young trees want shelter below this. Protect it when the forecast drops below -6 °C.

Feeding

Every 14 days, Apr to Oct, paused in the hottest weeks.

Repotting

Every 2 to 3 years, as buds swell, in Mar or Apr.

Growth

Fast growing. Hardy in zones 7 to 10.

The work calendar

Styles that suit it

MoyogiHokidachiSokan

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