My sister gave me this lacy looking potted evergreen tree in late March of this year, as it was too large and heavy for her small balcony. She bought it a few years ago and doesn't remember the name. It is about 5' high and 5' wide in a concrete planter about 15" square. At first I had it in my very shady front yard but in May it was moved to a somewhat brighter location. It was very healthy and beautiful when I got it, but after the move it lost a lot of leaves and was looking quite bare. The pot seems to have only 1 hole in the bottom so thought it might be too waterlogged and raised it up a bit to improve the drainage. It stopped losing leaves and has now started to grow new ones (last photo). I'd love to know what it is and how to care for it better, but have been unable to find anything similar in books or in online searches.
Looks like Golden privet...Ligustrum x vicaryi. https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=L...Kp7Ab98YDoBA&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=967 Often planted as a hedge and trimmed regularly. http://www.bluebellnursery.com/catalogue/trees/Ligustrum/L/6633680
I think you are probably right. I considered Ligustrum x vicaryi, which seems to have similar leaves and colour to my plant but I wasn't convinced. I've never seen one growing and in the photos I looked at its growth habit seemed to be generally more full, with branches all angling more upwards, whereas mine has a more lacy look, with branchlets pointing in all different directions, arching down or horizontal more than up. Your photo links seem more varied. My sister did not remember it ever flowering, but perhaps it won't in a pot. I did find online mention of privets defoliating due to stress and then coming back as this has done. Privet seems to be a popular bonsai plant which suggests that it could live a long time in a pot, though I guess it might need root pruning.
