Plant Identification

September 8, 2011 1:29 PM

Can anyone identify this shrub/bush/tree?

I'd like to plant more of these plants and better take care of existing ones.

Here is a close up.

Thanks!

posted by lyam to Home & Garden (7 answers total)

I was going to say Camellia, but the flowers look much more like some kind of Syringa.
posted by Solomon at 1:37 PM on September 8, 2011

Best answer: I would suggest Japanese Privet or a similar Ligustrum cultivar; they are very common landscape plants here in the SE United States, if you are near there.
posted by TedW at 1:46 PM on September 8, 2011

Ligustrum texanum, aka waxleaf privet.

I'm also guessing you're in the US South, but a location is always helpful for these kinds of questions.
posted by purpleclover at 2:05 PM on September 8, 2011

Best answer: Bah, my taxonomy is old. Now they're calling it Ligustrum japonicum 'Texanum'.
posted by purpleclover at 2:08 PM on September 8, 2011

Response by poster: I knew I forgot something. NC is the location. Thanks all!
posted by lyam at 2:54 PM on September 8, 2011

NC State site on Privet.

Since you want to keep these (invasive) plants, it would help to cut off the berries before the birds can spread them around.
posted by Seamus at 3:36 PM on September 8, 2011

Response by poster: Too bad they are invasive. Ten mature plants came with the purchase of our house and they fit in with the yard and house style quite nicely.
posted by lyam at 5:39 PM on September 9, 2011