Visit well-known gardens throughout the world, and you’ll often see hedges used to delineate various garden rooms, and in some cases to create mazes, such as the Hampton Court Maze in England. While a wide variety of hedges are used for these purposes, common privet (Ligustrum sinense) is particularly well suited for these tasks and more in the garden.
Eventually reaching 8 to 10 feet in height and 8 feet wide, privet hedge is an easy-to-grow plant that will quickly fill in an area of the landscape. Ligustrum tolerates pruning, which also makes it an excellent choice for topiary. It blooms in spring with sprays of fragrant, creamy-white flowers that result in purple berries. The flowers attract a wide variety of pollinators, including butterflies, and the privet’s seeds are eaten by birds.
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To have success growing common privet in your landscape, keep the following growing tips in mind.
Plant in full sun. Privet does best in a bright location. Plant in part shade and it will grow much more slowly. Aim for a minimum of seven to eight hours of direct sun per day.
Provide good drainage. Privet will grow in a wide range of soil types, but does best when the area drains well. Dig a 6- to 8-inch-deep hole and fill with water. It should drain within an hour. If it doesn’t, amend the area with compost and pumice and check drainage again.
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Water occasionally. Once established, privet is fairly drought tolerant. Water once a week during the warm months.
Use caution. Common privet is a fast growing plant that can be invasive. Only plant if you intend to use privet for a purpose, such as a hedge, topiary or maze, and you keep it in check with judicious pruning.
Prune regularly. Privet hedges tolerate heavy pruning, so don’t be afraid to cut the plant back severely when necessary.
Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of seven books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.
