Ligustrum Lucidum, or Ligustrum Japonicum?

[Pendula]

Hello all,

 

I'm new here, and this will be my first post (hope I'm in the right place).

 

So, my next door neighbour is in the process of building a balcony on their property, which will enable them to look into my garden (which was previously completely private) to quite an alarming degree - cheers, local council planning department!

 

I would like to put up a screening hedge that will restore some of my privacy, in quite a short time.  Ordinarily I would have a number of different options for this but, unfortunately, where I need to plant a row of trees is within 2 meters of my brick-built septic tank, so I am limited to trees with non-invasive roots (as much as possible). I need at least 4 meters height to the top of the tree, in order to make my neighbour disappear (although, once I start going above about 6 meters, I will begin to cut out the sunlight to my own garden - so it's tricky situation all-round).

 

To cut a long story short, through research I have ended-up opting for a row of standard privet trees. My only problem (as I see it) is deciding which particular privet tree to go for. The three types of privet that I have narrowed it down to are: the Chinese Privet (Ligustrum Lucidum); the Variegated Chinese Privet (Ligustrum Lucidum Excelsum Superbum); and the Japanese Privet (Ligustrum Japonicum (Texanum?)).

 

I am partially limited to these varieties by their availabilty in nurseries in the 3.5 - 4.0 meter height range (and cannot find my preferred choice of the 'ordinary' Chinese privet, in this size, anywhere, at the moment).

 

Different websites (as well as different tree nurseries!) tell you conflicting information about these trees. Some say that they will all basically grow to the same height, density and spread. Some say that the Japanese Privet is a smaller tree, not reaching the height of the Chinese Privet (and potentially not reaching the 4 meters I need), and some say the Variegated Chinese Privet is slower growing than the 'ordinary' Chinese privet, etc, etc.

 

So, I guess my question is: does anybody have a definitive answer (or know where I can get it) as to which of these trees will actually grow the largest, in the same conditions? Growing more than 4 meters is OK, because I can always prune it back, but not growing as high as 4 meters will be devastating (as my neighbour will be able to watch me performing naked pilates in my garden, which could obviously lead to my arrest (again!)).

 

Looking around the nursery websites I can only find Variegated Chinese Privet and Japanese Privet in the 3.5m - 4.0m height, at the moment (that are affordable anyway), so it might have to be a choice between these two.

 

I'm looking to buy about 10 plants, and space them about 1.5 meters apart.

 

Thanks, in anticipation,

 

Gaz.