Common Privet
Ligustrum vulgare
Also listed as Ligustrum album, Ligustrum angustifolium
Also known as Privet, European Privet, Wild Privet
Climate Match for your location
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Common privet is a fast-growing deciduous shrub widely used for hedging, producing small fragrant white flowers in late spring followed by black berries. It is extremely hardy, adaptable to various soils, and responds well to pruning.
Why grow it
Common privet offers reliable, predictable growth for formal hedging compared to slower-growing alternatives like boxwood, and its tolerance of poor soils and urban conditions makes it practical for difficult sites. Its dense branching and responsiveness to shearing provide flexibility in hedge form and height. The fragrant late-spring flowers and subsequent berry production add modest ornamental interest beyond its primary hedging function.
Watch out for
Privet requires regular pruning to maintain shape and prevent legginess, especially in partial shade. Heavy pruning can temporarily reduce flowering and fruit set. The plant's vigorous growth means it will require ongoing maintenance in smaller garden spaces to prevent it from outcompeting nearby plantings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Oleaceae
Native Range
Europe and western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Common privet is a fast-growing deciduous shrub widely used for hedging, producing small fragrant white flowers in late spring followed by black berries. It is extremely hardy, adaptable to various soils, and responds well to pruning.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Common Privet grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Common privet offers reliable, predictable growth for formal hedging compared to slower-growing alternatives like boxwood, and its tolerance of poor soils and urban conditions makes it practical for difficult sites. Its dense branching and responsiveness to shearing provide flexibility in hedge form and height. The fragrant late-spring flowers and subsequent berry production add modest ornamental interest beyond its primary hedging function.
Watch out for
Privet requires regular pruning to maintain shape and prevent legginess, especially in partial shade. Heavy pruning can temporarily reduce flowering and fruit set. The plant's vigorous growth means it will require ongoing maintenance in smaller garden spaces to prevent it from outcompeting nearby plantings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Oleaceae
Native Range
Europe and western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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