Privet, Ligustrum - Shrub

Privet is usually described as evergreen or semi-evergreen. It loses leaves in the winter, but not all of them and many remain so it generally appears evergreen, though not as fulsomely so in winter as summer.

Green privet is almost an obligate hedging plant in that it must be kept cut otherwise it becomes very open and loses its effect. Particularly good in windy areas such as by the sea. The leaves are elliptical and dark green. In lax hedges some shoots may flower and produce black fruit, grows up to about 2m or more.

There are variegated and yellow-leaved varieties available which are smaller than the green-leaved type, these can be used for hedging or topiary in the same way or as a part of a mixed border. The yellow variety in particular, Ligustrum ovalifolium aureum has wonderfully scented if fairly ordinary looking white flowers in the spring.

Height and spread: 4m x 4m (12ft x 12ft)

Planting distance when used for hedging

30cm, 12"

1.5-3m, 5-10ft

Cut whole plant back to 30cm, 12" of ground in spring to renovate, this may cause the plant to revert completely to green however.