ID of bush? (flowers, grow, grass, butterflies)

[barndog]

Does anyone have any idea what kind of bush this is? It flowers in the spring and smells sweet. (Bush located in Charlotte, NC). Thanks!

[unihills]

I think it is a ligustrum.

[barndog]

Oh, thank you! I think you're right!

[TheDragonslayer]

It is a ligustrum, in particular a California privet which has the larger waxy leaves. Ligustrum ovalifolium is not really from California but from Japan.

[wit-nit]

Ligustrum japonica, Japanese Privet

[TheDragonslayer]

I started my first one from a cutting about 10 years ago and from it started seven more that are now a hedge 24 feet long and about 10 feet tall, from that hedge I started another 2 dozen cuttings that is a hedge about 20 feet long and slopes from 2 feet at one end to 4 feet high at the high end that borders a driveway. I pretreat them by letting them sit in a bucket of water with rooted willow cuttings for a few weeks, then plant them in soil and water with the willow water. It can grow over 3 feet a season easy, but gets denser with each pruning, with pruners being the best way to trim it.

[luv4horses]

Yes, and it can get out of control quite easily, so buyer beware! It sounds like Dragonslayer has found the appropriate use for it, far away from any buildings or neighboring plants. I have never heard of the willow water trick. What does that do? Does it supply hormone?

[TheDragonslayer]

Originally Posted by luv4horses

Yes, and it can get out of control quite easily, so buyer beware! It sounds like Dragonslayer has found the appropriate use for it, far away from any buildings or neighboring plants. I have never heard of the willow water trick. What does that do? Does it supply hormone?

I read about the willow water trick in a 1983 Organic garden magazine, the water contains much of the same elements as aspirin, salicylic acid. It hastens rooting of cuttings and helps keep them from rotting. I have been using it since with good success. Any willow switches work, after putting them in water, tiny roots show up and up and down the stem is this white flaky stuff that reminds me of wet aspirin.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by wit-nit

Ligustrum japonica, Japanese Privet

The one in that photo is Ligustrum lucidum, aka Glossy Privet.

[elnina]

I have Japanese Privet, but this looks more like red tipped photinia.
New growth emerges brilliant red and slowly turns dark green. Butterflies love the flowers.

Japanese privet fruit attracts cedar waxwings:



Privets produce vast quantities of dark purple berries, and though I adore the birds who eat them, I do also refer to February as purple/black poo season, since the entire grass is covered with it. The waxwings come in hundreds, and be done with the whole tree in a day or two.