The Japanese ligustrum, also called Japanese privet, is a large shrub or tree that is usually seen at 6-12 ft in height but is capable of reaching 20 ft or more. The attractive leaves are evergreen, opposite, and somewhat pear-shaped with a sharp terminal point. They have 6 to 8 pairs of veins that may be somewhat sunken on the back. In spring, white flowers are borne on large terminal clusters 5-8 in long. The flowers produce a perfume. The blossoms are followed by green berries that ripen to dull black in winter and tend to persist on the plant for most of the year. The older and larger the tree, the more open its form becomes and looks attractive limbed up to create a bonsai-esque effect.