British Native Trees
and Shrubs

Privet Ligustrum vulgare (Oleaceae)

The deciduous or semi-evergreen privet is synonymous with hedging, although with its bushy, dark-green leaves and pyramid spikes of white flowers it makes an attractive and robust shrub in its own right. Its smooth, dark, wiry stems seldom grow much above 4 m high and the twigs are downy when young. They carry pairs of small, leathery, narrowly-oval leaves up to 6 cm long, shiny dark-green above and lighter beneath, which develop in March and April, growing darker before falling in winter. Conical clusters of heavily scented white flowers appear at the end of the shoots in June and July, followed by the shiny black autumn berries with oily flesh.

Privet is found in hedges mainly on calcareous soils throughout lowland England and is common in hedges, scrub, woodland and downland, mainly on calcareous soils throughout lowland England.

This shrub can be trimmed and used as a hedge, although it has no leaves in winter, but it can also be grown in a shrubbery or shrub border where it will form dense bushes. Like most members of the olive family it has tough, durable wood and wounds heal easily, so it can be shaped, although that will be at the expense of the flowers. Privet withstands pollution and is suited to town gardens. It prefers an open, sunny site to flower fully but will grow in semi-shade, and it needs free-draining, preferably alkaline, soils. The shrub is very drought resistant but will not accept very wet ground. Control may be necessary as it suckers readily. Many gardeners grow the Japanese species, Ligustrum ovalifolium, which is almost completely evergreen and has broader leaves, but it offers nothing to English wildlife. It can easily be propagated by hardwood cuttings taken from October to December and put straight into the ground or into a nursery bed for a year. It may also be raised from seed collected in autumn, stratified until late winter and sown in nursery rows before planting out two growing seasons later.

Pink and green dye can be obtained from the berries and a khaki colour from the branches. The fruits also produce a mild oil once used for lamps and making soap.

Uncut hedges and shrubs carry nectar-rich blossom whose scent attracts bees and other pollinating insects. Untrimmed privet is also a refuge for hibernating brimstone, small tortoiseshell, comma and peacock butterflies. As a hedge plant it provides good cover for nesting birds and the berries contribute to their winter diet. The leaves are the main food for the caterpillar of one of Britain’s most beautiful moths, the privet hawk moth, and for the coronet moth. White letter and black hairstreaks feed on the honeydew on the leaves.

Page last updated - January 10, 2002  

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