Ligustrum vulgare (Common Privet)
| Price £ each (ex. VAT) | ||||
| Height | Age | 25+ | 100+ | 500+ |
| 40-60cm | 1+1 | 0.75 | 0.43 | 0.38 |
| 60-80cm | 1+1 | 0.95 | 0.60 | 0.55 |
| 80-100cm | 1+1 | 1.20 | 0.70 | 0.65 |
Delivery
Bareroot from November to April
Prices
The prices above are offered as a guide and may be subject to fluctuation dependant upon the time of season and supply. We recommend that contact is made with the office for larger orders, a quotation and to check availability Alternatively please contact us to enquire about opening a wholesale account.
A semi-evergreen (evergreen in all but the harshest winters) large shrub which makes just as good a hedge as the more familiar Oval-leaved Privet. With narrower, pointed dark green leaves and larger panicles of flowers, it is an excellent, but often overlooked wildlife plant. Fast growing, if it is clipped regularly it will make a good dense hedge, but will not flower or fruit.
Site and soil
Wild Privet will grow in most soils, except very wet conditions, and does especially well on chalk. It is wind and shade tolerant and does well on coastal sites.
Height and spread
After 10 years: 3m x 3m
After 20 years: 3m x 3m
Leaf and bark
The leaves are oval to lance-shaped and a glossy dark green; evergreen. The bark is grey-brown, spotted with numerous lenticels.
Flower, seed and fruit
The creamy-white tubular flowers are carried in panicles 3-6cm long in July; they have a sweetish, musky scent. They are followed by clusters of glossy black fruits, each containing 1-4 seeds. The berries are poisonous to humans, but are relished by birds.
Uses
Hedges, mixed wildlife hedging, screening, woodland, game cover. The berried stems are valued for flower arranging, particularly as a contrast to the Spindleberry which fruits at the same time.
Wildlife
Common Privet has good wildlife value. Its dense habit provides an ideal nesting site for several species of birds. The flowers attract bees and other insects, and thrushes, blackbirds and waxwings eat the berries. Moths, including the Privet Hawk moth and the Lilac Beauty Moth feed on the shrub.
Pruning
Formal hedges should be trimmed every 4-6 weeks during the growing season. For wildlife, Common Privet can be cut back to ground level every few years if necessary in spring to improve flowering and fruiting.
