Ligustrum ovalifolium / Privet

Description

Common Name: Privet Hedge, Oval-leaf Privet
Botanical Name: Ligustrum ovalifolium
Plant Type: Semi-evergreen hedge
Mature Height: 1.5-4m (as hedge)
Mature Spread: 60-90cm (hedge width)
Flowering Period: June-July
Flower Colour: Creamy-white clusters
Foliage: Glossy dark green oval leaves, semi-evergreen
Hardiness: RHS H6 (hardy throughout UK and Ireland)
Soil Requirements: Adaptable to most soils, including poor conditions
Aspect: Full sun to full shade
Maintenance: Moderate to high (3-4 trims per year)

Description

Like emerald walls of enduring strength, Ligustrum ovalifolium hedging brings classic reliability and timeless appeal to gardens with its dense, formal structure that provides exceptional year-round screening whilst offering the bonus of fragrant summer flowers that perfume the air with sweet, honey-like scent. This magnificent semi-evergreen hedge embodies generations of British garden tradition with its supremely adaptable nature that thrives in virtually any condition, from deep shade to full sun, creating impenetrable barriers that have graced country estates and suburban gardens for over a century.

Each perfectly formed hedge displays the most attractive glossy dark green leaves that maintain their lustrous appearance throughout the growing season, creating beautiful contrast against lighter plantings whilst providing excellent screening and wildlife habitat. The remarkable summer flowering display produces clusters of creamy-white blooms that attract beneficial insects and fill the garden with delightful fragrance, whilst the rapid growth rate ensures quick establishment and dense coverage.

The exceptional tolerance and adaptability make privet hedging equally valuable in challenging urban environments and traditional country gardens, thriving in poor soils, pollution, and extreme shade where other hedging plants struggle whilst maintaining perfect density and form. This supremely hardy variety withstands neglect, coastal winds, and urban pollution, making it one of the most reliable and economical hedging plants for Irish gardens requiring robust, low-cost screening.

Beloved by generations of gardeners for its dependable nature and rapid establishment, ovalifolium combines outstanding practical benefits with classic garden appeal and remarkable longevity. Plant to create formal garden boundaries that provide instant impact, use as windbreak hedging in exposed locations, or establish as screening that will provide privacy, shelter, and seasonal fragrance for decades to come with minimal investment.

Caragh’s Garden Notebook

Plant in autumn or early spring in any well-drained soil, though privet tolerates most soil conditions including poor, dry, or heavy clay soils. Choose any position from full sun to deep shade, making this one of the most adaptable hedging plants for challenging garden situations. Space plants 30-45cm apart in a single row for dense coverage and quick establishment.

Maintain vigorous growth with annual feeding using general purpose fertiliser in early spring, though privet performs well even in poor soils without additional feeding. Water regularly during the first growing season to establish strong root systems, then only during severe drought, as mature hedges show excellent tolerance of both wet and dry conditions.

Trim 3-4 times during the growing season (late spring, midsummer, late summer, and autumn if needed) to maintain shape and dense growth, using sharp hedge trimmers to create clean cuts. The rapid growth rate means frequent trimming is essential to maintain a neat appearance, though the vigorous nature makes recovery from hard pruning straightforward.

Feed established hedges with general purpose fertiliser in early spring to promote vigorous growth and maintain dense screening, though privet rarely requires additional feeding once established. Remove flower clusters immediately after blooming if seed production is unwanted, though many gardeners prefer to leave flowers for their fragrance and wildlife value.

Water young hedges during dry spells in the first summer after planting, as consistent moisture aids rapid establishment, though privet is notably drought tolerant once established. The extensive root system adapts to most conditions, making this hedge ideal for low-maintenance situations where reliable screening is required with minimal ongoing care.