Ligustrum japonica ‘Rotundifolia’ (Rotundifolia)

Evergreen Privet from Japan, grown as a very attractive tree to about 15 feet. A well-behaved small tree with masses of white flowers from July to September.

It’s important to note that from a horticultural point of view, ‘well-behaved’ is not synonymous with low value or low interest. Ligustrum japonica ‘Rotundifolium’ is small, steady, maintains its own shape and won’t do anything dramatic or anxious-making. And that’s why we love it.

Rather slow-growing, unlike the species type, the compact nature of ‘Rotundifolia’ (round leaves, yes) makes it a valuable blob of evergreen architecture which you won’t have to be whipping your shears out every five minutes to maintain. In fact, we’d urge you not to primp and poodle this privet too much, or indeed at all, as their ever so slightly out-sized and prettily chubby leaves will look ghastly when hacked at. Cut edges go brown and dry, and you’d be denying them of all their charming rotundiness. Plus, it will take a while to forgive you and push out new shiny ones. Best let it do its own thing and trust their well-behaved nature.

Makes a great specimen tree for gardens on the more bijou side, and we also like it when planted as a mid-ground hump of evergreen structure in a mixed border. A potted pair would be tremendous, flanking a doorway and a nice unusual step up from your standard Bay bobble (Shhh we didn't say that).

Happy on any soil that is moist but well drained, and manages in any aspect but does definitely seem to do better out of the cold north winds: those perfect glossy leaves do look ‘orrible when scorched.