Wild Privet (ligustrum vulgare)

• Native semi-evergreen shrub (retains many leaves in mild winters), hardy and highly tolerant of most soils including chalk, clay, poor, and dry sites.
• Excellent for dense hedging or wildlife-friendly boundaries; responds very well to clipping and shaping.
• Abundant white fragrant flowers in midsummer attract bees, butterflies and hoverflies; black berries in autumn/winter feed birds (thrushes, blackbirds).
• Provides secure nesting cover and shelter for small birds and mammals.
• Fast-growing, wind-resistant, pollution-tolerant, and suitable for coastal/exposed locations; low-maintenance once established.

Planting Guide

• Best time: Bare-root November–March (dormant season); container-grown anytime, ideally autumn or spring.
• Location: Full sun to deep shade; any well-drained soil (tolerates wet, dry, poor, or alkaline); space for hedge (30–45cm apart) or shrub (up to 4m tall/wide).
• Preparation: Dig trench or hole twice root width; add organic matter to very poor soils.
• Planting: Set at original depth (check soil mark on stem); firm in, water thoroughly, mulch base (keep clear of stems).
• Aftercare: Water well first year in dry spells; trim hedges lightly after planting, then annually (summer for formal, winter for informal); minimal feeding needed; protect young plants from rabbits.