Greenhouse‐grownLigustrum sinense‘Variegatum’ plants pruned after 4, 5, 6, or 7 weeks of growth had similar dry weights 4 weeks after each pruning time. The mg of N, P, and K removed in pruned shoot tips was minimized by pruning at the 4‐week pruning treatment. Delaying pruning each week resulted in an increase in the amount of N, P, and K removed and the ratio of mg of N, P, and K removed in shoot tips to N, P, and K accumulated by shoots for each pruning time.