Ligustrum Hedges, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Formal, clipped screens along fences and property lines are where ligustrum works best: a fast, glossy hedge that grows easily in Southwest Florida. White flowers scent the air in spring. It also carries an invasive-species warning in Florida, so site and trimming matter. The 3 gallon plants are delivered and planted by our crew, who water them in.
- Light:
- Full sun to part shade
- Water:
- Moderate
- Salt:
- Low to moderate, best well back from direct salt spray
Ligustrum sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Ligustrum | 3 Gallon |
Ligustrum in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 8 to 15 ft tall if left unclipped; clipped hedges are held at 4 to 6 ft
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Salt tolerance
- Low to moderate, best well back from direct salt spray
- Cold tolerance
- Hardy; SW Florida cold does not bother it
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Spacing
- 3 to 4 ft on center for a clipped hedge
- Florida native
- No, native to Asia
Where Ligustrum works in a SW Florida yard
Ligustrum suits a clipped, formal look: a neat wall along a front walk, around a courtyard, or behind a row of lower shrubs. Its glossy leaves take shearing well, so it reads best held at 4 to 6 ft. Liriope or dwarf ixora in front finishes the line, and Walter's viburnum or cocoplum give a looser, more native-leaning alternative.
- Formal clipped hedges
- Fast privacy screens
- Fence-line screening
- Entry and driveway borders
How our crew plants it
Space 3 gallon plants 3 to 4 ft apart for a hedge. Plant each one no deeper than it grew in its pot, in a hole twice as wide. Backfill with native sand, water in, and mulch off the stems.
Extra watering for new plantings is allowed in Lee and Collier, so water every day or two at first, then taper.
Care after planting
- Shear a clipped hedge every 6 to 8 weeks during the growing season to keep it dense and to cut off flowers before berries form.
- Water deeply during the dry season, November to May, even once established.
- Feed with a slow-release shrub fertilizer in spring and early fall only; the Lee County, Naples and Marco Island summer ban (June 1 to September 30) covers nitrogen and phosphorus.
- Pull seedlings out of beds and lawn as soon as you see them.
What to watch for
- Privets are flagged as invasive in Florida: Chinese privet is a FLEPPC Category I invasive, and UF/IFAS rates Japanese ligustrum, the usual hedge type, as predicted invasive and not recommended, because birds spread the berries into natural areas; we suggest clipping hedges before they fruit, keeping them off preserve and canal edges, or choosing a native hedge like cocoplum, Simpson stopper or wax myrtle instead.
- The berries are poisonous if eaten, so plant it away from toddlers and pets that chew.
- Ligustrum weevils notch the leaf edges, which is cosmetic, while scale and sooty mold show up in crowded hedges.
Ligustrum questions we hear
Is ligustrum invasive in Florida?+
Privets as a group are. Chinese privet is on the FLEPPC Category I list, and UF/IFAS rates Japanese ligustrum, the usual hedge type, as predicted to be invasive and not recommended. Birds spread the berries. If your lot touches a preserve or canal bank, a native hedge such as cocoplum, Simpson stopper or wax myrtle is the better choice.
How far apart should I plant ligustrum for a hedge?+
Plant 3 gallon ligustrum 3 to 4 ft apart, center to center, for a hedge that closes in about a year with regular water. Go to 5 ft for a looser, taller screen. Keep the base 3 ft off a wall or fence so you can trim both sides, and shear before the plants set berries.
How fast does ligustrum grow?+
Fast. Ligustrum fills a hedge quickly in Southwest Florida's warm, wet summers, which is also why it needs regular shearing. Plan on a trim every 6 to 8 weeks from spring through fall to hold a formal 4 to 6 ft height, and cut it back harder in late winter if it gets ahead of you.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Ligustrum
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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