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Privet Wikimedia Commons
Oleaceae

Privet

Ligustrum vulgare

Defense and prohibition.

Family
Oleaceae
Genus
Ligustrum
Native to
Europe, North Africa, Western Asia
Bloom season
Summer
Type
shrub
Height
8-15 ft
Sunlight
full sun to partial shade
Soil
well-drained, adaptable
Water
moderate
Hardiness
5-8
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Privet hedges at 4 Privet Drive are famously the fictional address of Harry Potter's Dursley family.
  • Its dense growth and tolerance of heavy pruning have made it the most popular hedging plant in the world.
  • The berries are mildly toxic to humans but are eagerly eaten by birds in winter.
  • Its strongly scented flowers are divisive; some find them pleasant while others consider the smell unpleasant.
  • It was brought to North America as an ornamental in the 1700s and has since become invasive in many states.

Color meanings

0

defense

1

prohibition

2

mildness

Uses

  • hedging
  • topiary
  • screening
  • ornamental shrub
  • wildlife habitat