Plants
Privet
Ligustrum · Oleaceae
Privet is arguably the most uncomplicated hedging plant you can put in: fast-growing, extremely tolerant of clipping, city-proof and content with almost any soil. In June and July it carries fragrant white flower panicles that bees love, and in autumn glossy black berries for the birds. Important to know: berries and leaves are toxic to people and pets.
- Light
- Sun to partial shade; the more light, the denser the growth.
- Watering
- Low to moderate: water only while establishing and in prolonged drought.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Ligustrum
The most important hedging variety is Ligustrum vulgare „Atrovirens“: semi-evergreen, meaning it largely keeps its dark foliage through mild winters, dropping it only in hard frost. Oval-leaved privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) has larger, glossy leaves and is also available in golden yellow as „Aureum“, though it is somewhat more frost-sensitive.
As a hedge, privet forgives practically everything: it can be clipped two to three times a year, resprouts willingly even from old wood and can therefore be rejuvenated radically. For a screening hedge allow three to four plants per metre; after two to three years a closed green wall stands.
If you want to do nature a favour, leave parts of the hedge unclipped or grow privet freely: only then do the fragrant white flower panicles appear — a valuable insect pasture — followed by black berries that feed more than 20 bird species. A tightly clipped formal hedge hardly flowers, because trimming removes the flower buds.
In floristry privet plays a double role: the fine dark foliage is an inexpensive cut green, and the blue-black berry panicles are a popular structural element in autumn bouquets and wreaths — traded at the auction as ligustrum berry stems. They last astonishingly long in the vase.
On toxicity, a clear word is needed: berries, leaves and bark contain glycosides and are toxic to people as well as dogs and cats. The glossy berries in particular can tempt children to try them; even a handful can cause marked gastrointestinal upset. In families with small children it is best to cut the berries off in autumn.
Is Privet toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Toxic
- Cats
- Toxic
- Dogs
- Toxic
Berries, leaves and bark contain glycosides and are toxic to people, dogs and cats. The glossy black berries in particular are tempting for children; in family gardens it is best to remove the fruit clusters.
Typical symptoms: After ingestion: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain; larger amounts can cause circulatory problems. Skin contact with the leaves can irritate sensitive individuals.
In an emergency:call the German poison control centre in Bonn on +49 228 19240 (24/7) — for pets, contact an emergency vet directly. This information does not replace medical or veterinary advice.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Sunny to partially shaded position; in deep shade the hedge goes bare at the base.
- 02Privet makes few demands on soil; only permanent waterlogging is not tolerated.
- 03Water freshly planted hedges regularly in the first year; afterwards very drought-tolerant.
- 04Clip formal hedges twice a year, in late June and late August; check for bird nests first.
- 05Hard pruning is possible at any time; privet reliably resprouts even from old wood.
- 06In households with small children, remove the black berries in autumn.
Frequently asked
- Is privet toxic to dogs, cats and children?
- Yes. Berries, leaves and bark contain glycosides; typical consequences of ingestion are vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain, and with larger amounts circulatory problems. The black berries pose the greatest risk to children because they invite tasting. Birds, on the other hand, eat the berries without any problem.
- How fast does a privet hedge grow?
- Depending on the site, privet gains 30 to 60 centimetres a year, making it one of the fastest hedging plants. With three to four plants per metre, a screening hedge of 1.80 metres is usually achieved after three to four years — considerably faster than beech or yew.
- Is privet evergreen?
- Strictly speaking semi-evergreen: the variety „Atrovirens“ largely keeps its foliage through mild winters and drops it only in severe frost or late winter. If you need absolute year-round screening, combine privet with true evergreens such as yew or photinia.
- Why does my privet hedge never flower?
- Regular formal clipping removes the shoot tips on which the flower panicles would form. If you want the fragrant flowers and the berries for insects and birds, leave some sections or the top of the hedge unclipped for a year, or plant an additional free-growing shrub.