← Plant Guides

How to Grow Delavayi Privet

Wikimedia Commons

Delavayi Privet

Ligustrum delavayanum

shrub

Delavayi privet is an evergreen to semi-evergreen ornamental shrub native to southwestern China, known for its small, glossy dark green leaves and fragrant white flower clusters. It is commonly used as a hedge plant, screen, or specimen shrub in temperate gardens. The plant produces small black berries in fall that attract birds.

When should you plant Delavayi Privet in your zone?

Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.

Get my Delavayi Privet timeline →

Example Delavayi Privet timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Delavayi Privet

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Delavayi Privet

    Late summer into fall

    Before the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Delavayi Privet dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun to partial shade, 6+ hours of sunlight daily
💧
Water: Moderate watering; keep soil consistently moist during establishment and growing season. Once established, fairly drought-tolerant. Reduce watering in winter.
📏
Spacing: 24 inches
📅
Days to maturity: N/A (woody shrub)
🌱
Planting depth: Plant at same depth as root ball; bare-root material at crown level

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy to sandy soil
pH: 6.0-7.5
Amendments:
Compost Peat moss for moisture retention Perlite for drainage in heavy soils

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 8-9, hardy to zone 7b with protection

7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a

Sign up free to see if Delavayi Privet grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.

Get my Delavayi Privet timeline →

Growth Stages

1

Establishment

First 12 months

Young shrub with developing root system; shoots begin branching from base

Water regularly and deeply to encourage root establishment. Mulch around base to retain moisture. Avoid heavy pruning in first year.

2

Vegetative Growth

Months 4-12 and ongoing

Vigorous leaf production and branching; plant fills out with dense foliage

Apply balanced fertilizer in spring. Prune to shape desired form. Remove any dead or weak branches. Maintain consistent moisture.

3

Flowering

4-6 weeks in early summer

Small creamy-white fragrant flowers appear in terminal panicles

Flowers appear in early summer (June-July). No special care needed. Prune after flowering if desired, but avoid heavy pruning that removes developing fruit.

4

Fruiting

Late summer through fall/early winter

Small glossy black berries develop from spent flowers; very ornamental

Allow berries to persist for wildlife food and ornamental interest. Berries will drop naturally in fall.

5

Dormancy

December-February

In colder zones, plant may lose some or all leaves; growth slows significantly

Reduce watering. Protect from harsh winter winds in zone 7b. No fertilizer needed. Prune dead wood in late winter.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Japanese Holly Boxwood Escallonia Photinia Abelia Caryopteris Spiraea

Avoid planting near:

Plants requiring very acidic soils (below pH 5.5) Sensitive understory plants in dense shade cast by mature shrubs

Common Pests

  • Remove affected leaves; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap in early spring when miners are active; prune to improve air circulation

  • Inspect regularly; spray with horticultural oil during dormant season; remove heavily infested branches

  • Strong water spray to dislodge; insecticidal soap; neem oil spray

  • Increase humidity and water misting; neem oil or miticide if severe

Uses

🏠

Ornamental Hedging & Screening

Household

Delavayi privet is excellent for creating formal or informal hedges due to its dense branching habit and small leaves. It responds well to shearing and can be shaped into topiaries or screens for privacy. [source]

🦋

Bird Food & Shelter

Wildlife

The black berries are a valuable food source for birds in fall and winter, while the dense evergreen foliage provides year-round shelter and nesting sites. [source]

🎨

Cut Flowers & Arrangements

Craft

The fragrant white flower clusters and glossy foliage are attractive in fresh flower arrangements and can be cut for indoor decoration. [source]

🏠

Specimen & Accent Planting

Household

When left unpruned, Delavayi privet develops an attractive natural form and can serve as an ornamental specimen shrub in borders or foundation plantings. [source]

Harvest Tips

Not typically harvested. Berries can be left for wildlife or removed if desired. Branches may be cut for floral arrangements when in bloom.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Delavayi privet is named after Father Armand David, a French Lazarist missionary and botanist who collected plants in southwestern China in the 1860s.
  • 🌱 Unlike some privet species, Delavayi privet retains its foliage year-round in most climates, making it a true evergreen option for winter interest.
  • 🌱 The fragrant flowers of privet shrubs attract pollinators and are particularly fragrant in warm weather, though some people find the scent overpowering.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Full Sun Mulch Partial Shade
Shop Delavayi Privet plants and related plants at Plant Addicts →

Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.

Get your personalized Delavayi Privet planting timeline

Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Delavayi Privet seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.

Get my Delavayi Privet timeline →