Ligustrum japonicumor, Japanese privet, is native to central and southern Japan that has been naturalized in California. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing to up to 20 feet tall, with smooth, pale grey-brown bark on the stems. The leaves 2-4 inches long, glossy dark green above, yellowish green below, thick and leathery textured. The flowers are white, borne in clusters 3-7 inches long, blooming in late spring/early summer. The shrub makes for attractive and fragrant hedges in Hope Ranch.