If you're looking to add year-round color and low-maintenance beauty to your outdoor space, the Sunshine Ligustrum shrub might be your perfect match. Known for its vibrant golden-yellow foliage and compact growth habit, this evergreen shrub brings a cheerful glow to landscapes across Texas. Unlike traditional privets, Sunshine Ligustrum is sterile and non-invasive, meaning it won’t reseed or produce allergy-triggering flowers—just brilliant color and clean lines.

Growth Rate & Care

Sunshine Ligustrum thrives in full sun, needing at least six hours of direct light daily to maintain its signature golden hue. It prefers well-drained soil and benefits from a layer of mulch to retain moisture and protect roots. Once established, it’s impressively drought- and heat-tolerant, making it ideal for Texas’s fluctuating climate here in Zone 9. Water regularly during the first growing season, then scale back as the plant matures. Fertilize lightly in spring and fall with a slow-release blend rich in sulfur and iron to keep foliage lush.

This shrub grows quickly—up to one to two feet per year—and reaches a mature size of 4 to 6 feet tall and wide, making it perfect for hedges, borders, or standalone accents. Pruning two to three times a year helps maintain shape and encourages fresh growth. For hedges, space plants about three feet apart; for mass plantings, four to six feet is ideal. Avoid pruning in winter, as it can hinder energy storage and cold resilience.

Sunshine Ligustrum is also a favorite among commercial and residential clients for its pest resistance and allergy-friendly nature. It rarely attracts deer or common garden pests, and its lack of flowers means no pollen—great news for sensitive households. Just keep an eye out for leaf drop or browning, which can signal overwatering, poor drainage, or nutrient imbalance. A quick soil test and adjusted watering schedule usually solves the issue

Sunshine Ligustrum shrubs paired with Yew & coral Drift Roses

Landscape Design

At Professional Landscape Design, we love incorporating Sunshine Ligustrum into custom beds, borders, and seasonal displays. Its golden foliage pairs beautifully with deep greens, purples, and even holiday reds. Whether you're refreshing a front yard or designing a full outdoor retreat, this shrub offers color, structure, and reliability in every season. Ready to add some sunshine to your landscape? Let’s make it happen.