Chinese Privet Tree for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on August 9, 2022

Planting instructions

You should not have a difficult time finding an area in which your Chinese privet tree will thrive. In fact, the bigger concern when growing this plant is keeping it under control — it can thrive and spread in many soil conditions, including wet and dry soils, soils that range from acidic to alkaline, and soils that have low-nutrient density. Likewise, the Chinese privet tree will also adapt to varying degrees of sun exposure, from over six hours of direct light per day down to about four hours.

Watering and nutrients

Young Chinese privet trees will enjoy deep waterings that occur multiple times per week. Once you notice your plant has adapted to its new growing location, you’ll likely also notice that it has developed a strong resistance to drought. But while the Chinese privet is quite a drought-tolerant plant, it will display its best growth when it receives water about once per week. Fertilization should occur once per year during the spring. When feeding, use a fertilizer that is highest in nitrogen, followed by potassium, then phosphorus.

Pollination

In late spring, the Chinese privet tree holds plenty of flowers that attract pollinator insects. Those flowers are bisexual, meaning that they hold both male and female reproductive structures, which allows them to self-pollinate rather than relying on an additional pollinator plant companion for cross-pollination. When pollination occurs, the Chinese privet tree will begin to develop a set of dark blue berries that will reach their maturity in the months that span late summer and early fall.

Pruning

Without pruning, the Chinese privet tree can take on a somewhat unkempt form. This irregularity may be acceptable if your plant is part of a larger hedge planting scheme. However, if you grow this on its own, you’ll likely want to use pruning to shape this plant and keep it looking its best. Overall, the pruning needs for this plant can be somewhat high. In some cases, you may need to prune your Chinese privet tree multiple times following the bloom period to keep it in check.

Pests, diseases, and animals

Although the Chinese privet tree is generally a resilient and vigorous plant, it can run into several issues regarding pests and diseases. In the former category, whiteflies, scale insects, mites, and weevils are the insects most likely to cause an infestation in your tree. In the disease category, you should remain on the lookout for signs of powdery mildew, canker, and root rot. The last of those afflictions is most common for those who overwater their Chinese privet tree.

Achieving maximum results

The greatest concern by far when growing a Chinese privet tree is keeping it under control. Without supervision, this plant will expand and spread quickly wherever it can find favorable growing conditions. You will need to use diligent pruning measures to control the size of this plant. Additionally, you should know that the Chinese privet comes in more than one variety, and some varieties can have variegated leaves that add to the overall visual appeal of this plant.

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