Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Wax Leaf Privet
Wax Leaf Privet is a dense evergreen shrub with glossy, waxy leaves, grown as a hedge and screen. It usually grows 8 to 10 feet tall and takes shearing well, so it can be kept as a formal hedge, a cone or a globe. Creamy white flower clusters show up in late spring and draw bees. It holds its full green look all year.
Best for: formal and informal hedges, privacy screens along walls and fences, sheared cones and globes, and mass plantings on the east or north side.
Plant it 6 to 8 feet apart, center to center, for a hedge or screen along a wall or fence. At 8 to 10 feet tall it blocks views all year.
It shears cleanly into a formal hedge. Do the main shearing in early to mid summer after the late spring bloom, and shape lightly the rest of the year.
The dense, small leaves hold a shape, so it is trained into cones, globes and other topiary forms. Shape it lightly between the main summer shearings to keep the lines crisp.
Hot west sun can burn it, and it needs regular water to handle Valley heat. Wet, poorly drained soil brings yellow leaves and Texas root rot.
- Plant to plant6-8 ft apart, center to center
- Dense hedge or screenAbout 6 ft apart, center to center
Water a new plant often enough to keep the root ball moist for the first months. Once rooted, soak it deeply about every 7 to 14 days in summer, and every 2 to 3 weeks in cooler months.
Do the main shearing in early to mid summer, after the late spring bloom. Light shaping any time keeps cones, globes and formal hedges crisp.
Partial sun is best in the Valley. Hot west sun can burn the leaves, so a little shade in the hottest spells helps.
Texas root rot, spider mites and scale are the main problems in Arizona. Plant in soil that drains, and do not keep the ground soggy.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does Wax Leaf Privet get?
It usually grows 8 to 10 feet tall and 4 to 8 feet wide, at a moderate to fast pace. Shearing keeps it at hedge height, and it is easy to hold at 5 to 6 feet.
How far apart should I plant Wax Leaf Privet for a hedge?
Plant it about 6 to 8 feet apart, center to center, or about 6 feet for a denser screen. The Spacing tab will count plants for your row.
How often should I water Wax Leaf Privet?
Water it regularly all year, because it handles Valley heat only with regular water. Once rooted, give it a deep soak about every 7 to 14 days in summer and less often in cooler months.
Can Wax Leaf Privet take full sun in Phoenix?
It takes sun, but hot west sun can burn it. Partial sun, or light shade in the hottest spells, is best. East and north sides are easiest.
When should I prune or shear it?
Do the main shearing in early to mid summer, after it blooms in late spring. Light shaping can be done any time. It takes hard shaping, including cones and topiary.
Does Wax Leaf Privet flower?
Yes. Creamy white flower clusters come in late spring, often May. Many people find the scent musty or unpleasant.
Does it have berries?
Yes. Small black, waxy berries follow the flowers in clusters, and birds eat them. The berries and leaves are poisonous if eaten by people or pets.
Is Wax Leaf Privet toxic to dogs and cats?
Yes. It is listed as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Stomach upset is the most common sign. Keep pets from chewing the leaves or berries, and call a vet if they do.
Why are my privet leaves turning yellow?
Wet, poorly drained alkaline soil is a common cause. Check drainage and ease off watering if the soil stays wet.
Why did part of my privet hedge suddenly die?
Texas root rot is a known killer of privet in Arizona, and wet, poorly drained soil makes it worse. Spider mites and scale also show up. Check drainage around the roots.
How cold can Wax Leaf Privet take?
It is rated from about 0 to 15°F and handles Valley winters without damage, so it needs no frost cover.
Wax Leaf Privet for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Wax Leaf Privet (Ligustrum japonicum 'Texanum') is a common hedge shrub in the Valley, with dense, glossy, waxy leaves. It shears into formal hedges, cones and globes. Below is what to expect, including size, hedge spacing, sun, water, pruning, soil, common problems and pets.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Wax Leaf Privet hedges in Phoenix
Wax Leaf Privet is a common hedge shrub in the Valley. It stays dense and glossy all year and shears into formal hedges, cones and globes.
How far apart to plant a privet hedge
Plant Wax Leaf Privet about 6 to 8 feet apart, center to center, or about 6 feet for a denser screen. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your row.
How big does Wax Leaf Privet get?
It usually reaches 8 to 10 feet tall and 4 to 8 feet wide, at a moderate to fast pace. Regular shearing keeps it at 5 to 6 feet if you want a lower hedge.
Watering privet in the Arizona heat
Privet needs regular water all year to handle Valley heat. Soak it deeply about every 7 to 14 days in summer and less often in cooler months, in soil that drains.
When to shear Wax Leaf Privet
Shear after the late spring bloom, in early to mid summer. Light shaping any time keeps topiary and formal hedges neat.
Privet flowers and berries
Creamy white flowers come in late spring and have a musty scent many people dislike. Small black berries follow, which birds eat. Leaves and berries are poisonous to people and pets.
Privet problems in Arizona
Texas root rot, spider mites and scale are the main problems. Wet, poorly drained alkaline soil also causes yellow leaves, so good drainage matters.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.