Ligustrum Ovalifolium Privet Hedging

Ligustrum Ovalifolium (Privet Hedging)

Ligustrum Ovalifolium is more commonly known as privet (or hedging privet and also oval-leaved privet). Privet is Britain’s best-loved and perhaps most popular hedging plant, explaining why it is often referred to as hedging privet. 

Ligustrum Ovalifolium is a fast growing hedge with a very dense habit. Privet hedging plants will rapidly form an impenetrable hedge, ideal for evergreen screening and privacy. Privet is a tough and hardy shrub originating from Japan. It is semi-evergreen but throughout most UK winters it does retain its foliage unless the weather is very severe. Its dense branches provide safe and secure nesting for small birds. 

Privet has attractive lush green foliage with flashes of greenish-yellow from the leaf underside. The leaves, as the name Ovalifolium suggests, are oval shaped. 

You can keep a Ligustrum Ovalifolium hedge at any height you like. From a low decorative privet hedge of 3 to 4 feet, right up to 15 feet or more if required. Privet is extremely tolerant of clipping and shaping and can be clipped several times per year. 

Some gardeners prefer a more informal hedge than the strict geometric lines of a formal clipped hedge. Ligustrum Ovalifolium works just as well when grown more informally. Clipped less often, it will produce panicles of tiny, white flowers in summer and black berries in autumn, thus becoming a real wild-life magnet in your garden as well as providing solid screening and privacy. 

Privet Hedging Plants will benefit from a bit of feeding for the first few years until they get established.
See also Golden Privet - Ligustrum Ovalifolium Aureum