Wavy Leaf Ligustrum

Wavy Leaf Ligustrum gives evergreen screening a little movement. Its glossy dark-green leaves ripple along the margins and twist at the tips, creating a textured surface that feels less flat than a conventional clipped hedge.

Left with room to develop, it grows into an upright, open shrub or small tree about 10 feet tall and 5–6 feet wide. Use it along a fence, toward the back of a foundation bed or as a trained accent where year-round green structure is useful. It can also be maintained as a hedge, although a formal outline requires regular pruning.

Small white flower clusters appear in late spring. Their odor is strong and unpleasant to many people, and blue-black fruit may follow.

Landscape Use

Hedge or Privacy Screen

Plant Wavy Leaf Ligustrum where its evergreen foliage can create height and separation along a fence or property edge. Regular pruning can develop a more continuous hedge or formal screen.

Plan for ongoing maintenance. This cultivar does not naturally remain a compact, tightly rounded shrub, and closer hedge spacing increases the amount of pruning needed as the plants mature.

Foundation Planting

Its upright form can add evergreen height to a deep foundation bed. Place it where the eventual 10-foot height will not cover windows, crowd low eaves or interfere with another permanent feature.

The wavy foliage works well behind lower shrubs and perennials, where the dark green leaves provide a consistent backdrop.

Accent or Container Specimen

With selective training, Wavy Leaf Ligustrum can be developed into a small accent tree. It may also be grown in a large outdoor container with dependable drainage.

Container-grown plants require regular moisture checks and ongoing pruning as the shrub matures.

Regional planting note: The ‘Recurvifolium’ cultivar is not presently known to be invasive, but it may revert to wild-type Japanese privet. The species is considered invasive or problematic in parts of the Southeast. Check current state and local guidance and consider a less-problematic alternative where privet is discouraged.

Safety: Do not eat the leaves or fruit. Wavy Leaf Ligustrum is poisonous to people and can harm dogs, cats and horses if ingested.

Shipping restriction: Cannot ship to Tennessee under current Plants by Mail product policy.