It is privet, also known as Ligustrum.

I agree :-)

Yep

Thank you. Had to be something fairly common - this is not the gardening capital of the world.

It must not be, if "the nursery" did not know privet.

Well ................ any regular on these forums probably knows more than the employees at our 3 local garden centers. We no longer have a true nursery. My error, I should have said garden center. I'll have to become acquainted with the buyer of the best one (ACE Hardware).

The Ligustrom (privet) I knew in Oregon had quite a different leaf shape. A google search exposed privet pollen as being disastrous for asthma & allergy sufferers so maybe I shouldn't try propagating.

Funny that this old thread is near the top of the page.

You were right to see a resemblance to Lilac. Same family.

Oh yes, bboy - didn't spot the date.