Chinese Privet Bonsai Care Guide

Ligustrum lucidum

Chinese Privet Bonsai

Native to China, Japan and Japan. Ligustrum sinense are hardy evergreen species with white flowers and black-blue berries growing among glossy dark green leaves. These trees grow vigorously and are easy to train for beginners. 

Chinese Privet Bonsai Care Tips

Chinese privet despite their hardy qualities make for great indoor bonsai. Placed indoors this specimen requires a bright and sunny spot but not too humid or warm conditions. If in an overly warm environment, the shoots will become leggy as a result. They benefit from being moved outdoors in the summer. 

The soil should be kept moist year-round. Water regularly while being careful not to overwater. Water more frequently in the summer. 

If kept in a high-humidity/dry room, misting is advisable. This can be achieved by using a mister to spray the leaves, as well as placing a gravel tray under the pot to create a more humid microclimate around the tree and reduce evaporation from the leaves.

Feed during the spring and summer one every 2 to 3 weeks using a general fertiliser. 

To maintain the plant shape, pinch out new shoots when they appear. Pruning should take place in the middle of summer, only light pruning is necessary for Chinese privet.

We recommend using wires with a thickness that matches the thickness of the branch: if the wire you choose is too thick you will damage the bark. If it is too thin, it won’t be effective.

Repotting your tree is an important way to provide a fresh and suitable soil mix and ensure appropriate root health. Chinese privet requires repotting from the middle to late spring every other year. be sure to use a free-draining soil mix.

Trees that are ready for repotting will require root pruning, a suitable new pot and appropriate soil mix.

When repotting, do not cut back the root mass by a large amount, and choose a well-draining soil mix that has a neutral or slightly higher PH value of 5-6 but not over 7. We tend to use a mixture of different speciality bonsai soils on our trees. Every species is different so please contact us for free soil-mix advice or to take advantage of our repotting service.

The Ligustrum genus consists of over 50 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs. Popular across Europe and common in the UK, privet has been widely used for hedging gardens. A popular bonsai for its ease of care is the Common Privet. Beautiful miniature trees can be made of this horticultural staple. 

Bonsai make for a one-of-a-kind indoor plant offering elegance, nature and art all in one minute form. Across an array of exquisite and erudite species, they all demand their own specific care and cultivation needs in order for their beauty to flourish. We have an extensive library of care guides for indoor bonsai trees so you can make an informed and considered choice. It’s not about selecting the perfect bonsai, it’s about selecting the perfect bonsai for you. 

Chinese Privet Bonsai - Typical Queries

To propagate a Chinese privet use seeds, cuttings or air layering. Autumn and Spring are the best time to sow seeds. Hardwood cuttings need to be taken in Winter. Semi-ripe cuttings need taking in Summer. The tail end of Spring is the window for air layering. 

Chinese privet is susceptible to scale, aphids and whitefly. These can be picked off by hand unless too numerous then apply an insecticide. Be aware that dieback can occur on some branches on its own accord. Stems will need cutting back in this instance. 

This species can be grown outdoors if required as it is perfectly hardy, but be sure this Bonsai gets the sufficient sunlight it desires.