Excelsum Superbum Ligustrum. Great plantsman and friend Sean Hogan of Cistus Nursery in Portland, OR, found this cultivar of Ligustrum in Greenwich, England. This cultivar is better known in Europe but little known in the U.S. It took us a while to find the correct cultivar name. It is without a doubt the most outstanding variegated Ligustrum in existence. This species will reach small tree proportions and the large plant in the photos is at Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, NC. Sean did not know the true cultivar name of this plant, so he decided to call it 'Greenwich' until we decided that it was 'Excelsum Superbum' from THE HILLIER MANUAL OF TREES AND SHRUBS. Easily gown, it can be kept as a large shrub or trained into a multi-trunked or standard small tree. Full sun gives the best appearance, but it will tolerate some shade, but the variegation will not be nearly as intense. In zone 6 one might experience some cold burn to its evergreen foliage during the winter, but it quickly recovers in the spring. It also sports terminal and axillary lilac-like white fragrant panicles of flowers in May here in zone 8.
Zone 6-9
