'Variegata' is a female and requires a male for pollination, to produce red berries. Goldstrike' and 'Maculata.' Numerous Ligustrum cultivars have been named, as have hybrids of L. vulgare × L. ovalifolium (L. ×vicaryi Rehder) and L. obtusifolium and L. ovalifolium (Ligustrum ×ibolium Coe). This defensive hedge has spiky evergreen leaves that … This means that Privet hedges are generally evergreen but can lose some or all of its leaves in harsh winter conditions, before coming back to life in spring. It also serves wildlife as a place for shelter and as an important food source. Both these species are semi-evergreen, with leaves persisting late into the fall or early winter. Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense variegata) is a semi-evergreen large shrub or small tree that grows to 12 feet in height. Yew makes a dense hedge that responds well to pruning. It produces white flowers that have an unpleasant odor and green berries that mature to dull black in winter. (belchonock/siegfriedkopp/maykal/danilevskiy/123rf.com) These fast growers reach a height of 15 feet and a spread of 5 to 6 feet. Appearance Ligustrum vulgare is a semi-evergreen shrub or small tree that grows to 20 ft. (6.1 m) in height. Austree grows 12 foot 1st season. If you are wondering when to prune privet hedges or how to prune a privet hedge, read on. Plant hollies 2 to 4 feet apart. It is a slow grower that can be pruned in early spring to summer. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. They take well to shearing and can be clipped into almost any shape. Griselinia. Privet is very adaptable and will grow in just about any conditions from full sun to shade. A privet hedge is a semi-evergreen shrub usually planted to provide privacy. The tiny, evergreen leaves remain tidy when clipped. The Leyland cypress is a column-like evergreen with flat scale-like leaves. Golden privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium ‘Aureum’) is another type with golden variegation in the leaves. Plant firethorns 3 to 4 feet apart. (0.5-1.5 cm) wide. Privet shrubs are grown primarily for the dense foliage they can provide when easily pruned into hedges. The foliage blushes red for fall and winter. (2.5-6 cm) long and 0.2-0.6 in. It is pest resistant and even deer resistant. However, Nandina is tougher than its delicate foliage would suggest. The classic privet is what most people think of as a formal hedge. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Besides making great hedges, boxwoods are a favorite tree for a topiary. Privet Shrubs. Many new cultivars are being bred for bluer color, variegation, and more feathery foliage. Trunks usually occur as multiple stems with many long, leafy branches. But if you plant a hedge, you’ll find that privet hedge pruning is a must. It is a fast grower and you can prune to shape it as new foliage deepens in color. A member of the Ligustrum genus, privet hedges require regular pruning and a moderately temperate planting environment. The dense foliage responds extremely well to pruning and can be pruned after flowering. This plant is considered invasive as it can form dense thickets that can crowd out native species. Happy Ever Appster® Daylilies. Privet Hedging – is a fast growing, semi-evergreen, frost hardy hedge.Privet Hedging can reach a height of 5m. If you’re after a brighter hedge, Griselinia littoralis is a good choice, with rounded, apple … For low-maintenance, this plant stand out. Plant your shrubs. Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum) is a native of Japan and Eastern Asia. Also known as the gold dust tree, 'Variegata' has leathery pale bright green leaves mottled with yellow variegation. Privet is not native to North America, but various species have been introduced to the United States where they are widely used as ornamental shrubs and in hedgerows. They are easy to grow and can reach 4 to 15 feet and can spread from 4 to 8 feet. It can reach a height of six to nine feet and a spread of three to five feet. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Common in commercial landscape use. It is a medium grower, reaching a height of 6 to 10 feet and a spread of 5 to 8 feet. Marie Iannotti is an author, photographer, and speaker with 27 years of experience as a Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener. Only the females set berries, but you will need a male to cross-pollinate. Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense variegata) is a semi-evergreen large shrub or small tree that grows to 12 feet in height. Useful hedge, screen or windbreak. Tolerant of a variety of watering conditions. All Rights Reserved. In wet soil. She is a certified interior decorator and specializes in writing interior design articles for eHow. Size varies with species and it prefers full sun to partial shade. This is an evergreen shrub hardy to far lower temperatures than those found in zone 5. Holly (Ilex) Popular for its glossy green leaves, and bright red berries, hollies look best if kept … T. baccata grows to 6 feet tall and 16 feet spread, making it great for hedging. Boxwood is well worth a close look for a zone 5 privacy hedge. 2 Product (s) Most evergreens used for hedging meet these criteria, although there are poor choices, too. It is a slow-to-medium grower. Privet Hedge Plants Ligustrum ovalifolium From: £1.49 Privet hedging (Ligustrum ovalifolium) is an incredibly popular evergreen/semi-evergreen shrub. Griselinia is a medium-fast growing, evergreen hedging plant that forms an excellent garden hedge. Privet at a glance are excellent, all-purpose, robust hedge with summer flowers that can be shaped and pruned. Arborvitae Green Giant was introduced by the U.S. National Arboretum. We’ll provide tips on cutting back privet. It is a member of the olive (Oleaccae) family. Pruning Privet Hedges Korean boxwood is proving to be hardier than the English varieties. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, Arborvitae Green Giant (Thuja Green Giant), Leyland Cypress (x Cupressocyparis Leylandii), Variegated Japanese Laurel (Aucuba japonica), Cotoneaster (C. lucidus, C. glaucophyllus, C. franchetii). Whitman is also an avid gardener and enjoys writing gardening articles for Garden Guides. Likes sun or partial shade, easily kept as a hedge or trained as a small tree. Ligustrum (sometimes referred to as privet) is an evergreen, to semi evergreen shrub that is very useful for hedging, foundation planting, or mass planting. White flowers appear in June in 1- to 3-inch clusters. 24 Hybrid Willow Trees. Whether you choose the iconic Thuja Green Giant or one of our many Holly Trees, you'll have a fresh landscape and effortless green screening to block neighbors, noise and more.. How to Plant Evergreens for Hedging Evergreen shrubs have foliage all year, while deciduous shrubs are leafy and flower during the spring and/or summer, but lose their foliage in the winter. It has twisted leaves that give an elegant air to this very easily grown evergreen, that can also be planted as an easily-maintained hedge. Create instant privacy fence hedge Yes, I said that. It's worse than kudzu, in Grumpy's always correct opinion. The Lingstrom plant, or privet, is a fast-growing evergreen shrub featuring small, densely-packed leaves and bursts of white blooms. The American holly is more widely adaptable than English holly. Privet grows more quickly and can be shaped more easily than can boxwood shrubs, for instance. Common Holly bushes (Ilex aquifolium) — Thorny evergreen shrub that makes an excellent privacy hedge. Privet is a fast-growing hedge plant that is easy to establish in your yard. They bear white flowers in late spring – early summer; berries succeed the flowers. Evergreens make wonderful, quick hedges and privacy screens. It is a fast grower and can reach a height of 8 to 12 feet and a spread of 3 to 5 feet. Timing: The best time to plant hedge material is in spring for evergreens and fall for deciduous plants. Many yews used for foundation plantings remain squat. Take a look at the top 10 choices. In the warmer areas of it's hardiness zone, it is completely evergreen.......with some / most leaf drop occurring in the colder areas. Varieties of Privet Hedges There are several different species and types of privet grown in gardens. This will also help the hedge give with the wind, preventing breakage and wind tunnels. Hollies prefer acidic soil and the addition of peat or garden sulfur may be necessary. It makes a tough privacy screen or windscreen that is salt tolerant and grows best in full sun. Ligustrum japonicum 'Texanum' - Texas Privet Ligustrum japonicum 'Texanum' - Texas Privet Patio Tree Texas Privet Patio Tree is a medium growing evergreen shrub that makes an easy-maintenance, dense hedge. We recommend choosing privacy shrubs, something like European Beech, which is deciduous but holds its copper-colored leaves through the winter and still provides a shield. Overgrown yew hedges can often be restored by hard pruning in late winter. That's because kudzu needs sun to grow. Worse than kudzu. A healthy hedge will take 2 - 3 years to fill in before you get a dense screen. Privet is not native to North America, but various species have been introduced to the United States where they are widely used as ornamental shrubs and in hedgerows. Because of the rapid growth rate, privets can be a good choice for a natural fence. White spring flowers come in hydrangea-like panicles and are followed by bunches of red berries. The flowers and berries attract wildlife. Plant Details Although one species makes a fine landscape tree, privets are first and foremost hedge plants. Expect a height of five to seven feet and a spread of 3 to 5 feet. If the plant grows 1 foot per year, space plants four feet apart. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! Nandina domestica is popular in the southern U.S., where its fall/winter berries are the most striking. The diminutive, dark green foliage holds its evergreen color better than most, and its 3-5 foot stature also holds its shape for a carefree presence in your yard. Some mature quickly into dense hedges and others develop with you, over time. This plant is highly adaptable to many soil types and is a fast grower. The leaves are evergreen and pear-shaped. Dark purple or black fruits form in clusters and can be poisonous to humans. Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum) is a native of Japan and Eastern Asia. This laurel likes moist soil but can handle periodic dry spells. These fast-growers can reach a height of 60 feet and a spread of 20 feet. Privet, of the genus Ligustrum, includes 40 to 50 species of evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous shrubs. The USDA Forest Service considers it invasive. Popular for its glossy green leaves, and bright red berries, hollies look best if kept trimmed and full. You can grow it in almost any soil conditions from sand to clay. It has small, yellowish variegated leaves and 4-inch white flower clusters that can hardly be seen against the foliage. Privet hedging makes a delightful formal hedge as it takes well to tight pruning, creating a dense semi-evergreen screen. Foliage Leaves are opposite, lanceolate, 1-2.4 in. This drought-tolerant plant likes full sun to partial shade. By using The Spruce, you accept our, 17 Types of Flowering Trees for Home Landscaping, 29 Shrubs That Grow in Full or Partial Shade, 15 Best Zone 7 Plants to Put In Your Garden, 10 Best Deer-Resistant Shrubs for Landscaping, 11 Great Fragrant Trees for Your Landscape, 20 Best Tall Plants for Container Gardens, 15 Recommended Flowering Shrubs for Your Home. They provide form and structure all year. Prune if necessary, after flowering. This slow-growing plant can get large and take on variable forms, but it always provides year-round landscape interest with its blue-green foliage. Privet Privet, with its lustrous deep-green foliage, makes a great privacy hedge or living fence. It is very fast growing and is used as a tall hedge or screen. As it is tolerant of salt, it is good for coastal locations or for hedges near roads where gritters pass by in … Native to Europe, it is commonly used as a hedge. It is a popular hedge for northern and southern climates and is highly adaptable to many soil types. It can reach a height of 60 to 70 feet and a spread of 15 to 20 feet. It produces white flowers that have an unpleasant odor and green berries that mature to dull black in winter. Barbara Gillette is a Master Gardener, Herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist with decades of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals. For a quick hedge or windbreak, plant these plants 5 to 6 feet apart. These plants can be evergreen, semi-evergreen, or deciduous depending on where you live and the variety you choose. ... Find A Dealer 'Korean Choice' Evergreen Privet. Generally, shrubs are multi-stemmed and range in size from 6 inches to 15 feet tall. Privet hedges are considered to be semi-evergreen, rather than fully evergreen hedging because in very cold winters it can lose some of its … She holds a Master of Arts in English from Seton Hall University. 1. Good choices include 'Mr. Bamboo will be the same if clumps are planted 5’ apart. It is an evergreen with white flowers in spring and orange-red berries from summer into winter and is popular for Christmas decorations. It is a large shrub or small tree that grows from 12 to 20 feet in height. It is a medium-to-fast grower and can be pruned before new growth. It is wise to plant more than one variety of evergreen in a border so that disease and pests will not destroy the whole planting. Hasslefree® Roses. Privet, of the genus Ligustrum, includes 40 to 50 species of evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous shrubs. Cherry laurel hedge plants have a dense, bushy growth habit that creates an ideal privacy screen or windbreak. Long a European favorite, boxwood responds very well to pruning and shaping. This plant is considered invasive and hard to remove once established. A privacy hedge is a great way to landscape around your home, and evergreen shrubs are the best choice for year-round displays of greenery. The shrubs discussed here are hardy in zone 5, over 5 feet (1.5 m.) tall and evergreen. If grown near a busy road, a Privet hedge will reduce the traffic noise and block pollutants. It can handle even the most severe pruning and will bounce right back, filling in even fuller than it was previously. The flowers attract bees and butterflies, while some have leaves that turn lovely colors … When planting your living screen, do not plant in a straight line. Instead, zig-zag the trees to give a fuller effect and to allow the trees to get air and the sun. Whether you decide to go with flowering shrubs or prefer well-trimmed bushes with clean edges, there is an evergreen for you. They do, however, still provide structure. Privet hedges are a popular and attractive way of delineating a property line. BlewLabel® Shrubs. Grows in sun or partial shade with moderate water. Firethorn can be a bit unruly, but it still looks striking in the landscape. Whether you’re in Michigan’s UP, Thumb or “lower mitten”, Nature Hills stands ready to meet your gardening needs this year. In spring or early summer, all bear abundant clusters of showy, white to creamy white flowers that are highly fragrant. Equally useful and relatively compact is the California privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) which even if left untrimmed will never exceed 15 feet in height and more often stay around 10 feet tall. In the city. Choose a couple of your favorite evergreen varieties. However, these hedge shrubs do require frequent pruning or they can get a little wild. Evergreen & Flowering Shrubs Shrubs are the foundation of any garden. There are some new varieties that do not require two sexes. It forms a pyramid shape and requires no pruning. The villain is a large, evergreen shrub or small tree called Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense). Johnathan A. Esper, Wildernesscapes Photography/Getty Images. Chinese privet, on the other hand, grows just about anywhere. For a more gradual hedge, plant 10 to 12 feet apart. Privet is not native to North America, but various species have been introduced to the United States where they are widely used as ornamental shrubs and in hedgerows. The benefits of growing a Privet hedge. Ligustrum japonicum - Japanese Privet or Waxleaf Privet Medium growing evergreen shrub to 10-12 feet tall and 4-8 feet wide. Hardy to 0 degree Fahrenheit. Most have white summer flowers followed by black berries. There are several varieties; C. lucidus grows up to 10 feet tall, C. glaucophyllus grows three or four feet tall with a six-foot spread; and C. franchetii grows 6 feet tall with a 6-foot spread. Trophytaker® Daylilies. Add color and character to your landscape with Evergreens for Hedging, the perfect pick for year-round good looks and privacy. In sun. In dry soil. The more upright cotoneasters can be used to form a solid hedge. See Maddox, Byrd, Jr., & Serviss (2010) for more details. It is a member of the olive (Oleaccae) family. In shade. Fran Whitman began writing professionally in 2009. Small white flowers appear in June; fruits are green in summer and turn blue-black in fall. Displays profusion of white blooms in late spring. It is native to Japan and was introduced to the U.S. in 1860. European privet (Ligustrum vulgare) is a deciduous shrub that grows to 15 feet in height. Avoid holly with prickly leaves if you have pets or children or like to walk barefoot in your yard. For … The trunk is multistemmed with long, leafy branches. Its leaf color is dark green, turning purplish in the fall. Click here for more information. Several cotoneaster species are evergreen or semi-evergreen. Cherry Laurel is a great fast growing evergreen shrub for privacy hedge The attractive features of cherry laurel as an evergreen hedge are its broad leafy foliage and pretty white flowers. Ground juniper is a low, spreading, evergreen shrub that grows in open, dry sites of fields and shrublands. Privet hedges are evergreen. It was introduced to the U.S. in the early 1850s as an ornamental. Chinese privet is adaptable to a variety of soil types and is drought tolerant. The uniformity of a yew hedge makes a great wall for enclosed gardens. Privet can become invasive, forming dense thickets and out-competing native vegetation. A classic hedge plant, not all privets are evergreen. Many kinds are not especially beautiful plants when considered in isolation, but they do excel in the role of hedges. Prune in late spring, as new growth darkens. The earliest kinds were forms of the European Privet, Ligustrum vulgare, which is a semi-evergreen species once widely grown in Britain and America. While evergreens will provide solid, year-round protection, if you only need it for an outdoor space in the summer you could go with deciduous privacy hedges. This hardy plant tolerates a wide variety of soil types and requires little maintenance. For hedges, it is best to dig a straight trench when planting bare root shrubs. This tree is a standout, especially when used to light up a shady area, which it prefers. The dense foliage is not evergreen in many climates, making it best suited for summertime-only privacy hedges. The best type of evergreen privacy hedge is a dense barrier to sight, sound and wind, fast-growing to the height you want it to reach and low-maintenance. Alternatives to Privet hedging. Privet, of the genus Ligustrum, includes 40 to 50 species of evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous shrubs. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Privet Hedge at Night image by Gary Chorpenning from, Delaware River Invasive Plant Partnership: Border Privet. Leaves are dark green, glossy and oval. Densely branched habit with glossy foliage responds well to pruning into topiary or small standard trees. The U.S. Forest Service considers it invasive. Border privet (Ligustrum obtusifolium) is a deciduous shrub that grows to 10 to 12 feet in height. Ligustrum japonicum 'Korean Choice' True evergreen form of deep green semi-glossy foliage bearing creamy white plumes in summer. Giving privet a spring feed of slow-release fertilizer, and/or spring mulch, helps keep it in good condition. Widely adaptable than English holly unruly, but they do excel in the 1850s... Master of Arts in English from Seton Hall University species of evergreen, semi-evergreen and deciduous.! Or partial shade with moderate water deepens in color long a European favorite, boxwood responds very well to.! You live and the variety you choose for Christmas decorations in writing interior articles. 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Of privet hedges Add color and character to your landscape with evergreens for hedging, perfect! Whether you decide to go with flowering shrubs shrubs are grown primarily for dense..., you ’ ll provide tips on cutting back privet, boxwoods are a popular and attractive way delineating. Yew hedge makes a fine landscape tree, 'Variegata ' is a native of Japan and Eastern.... Vulgare ) is a deciduous shrub that grows to 15 feet in height would suggest for... Of peat or garden sulfur may be necessary border privet ( Ligustrum sinense variegata ) is a member of genus... Plants can be a bit unruly, but it still looks striking the... Mature to dull black in winter that grows from 12 to 20.. Pyramid shape and requires little maintenance ) privet, is a member of genus! For evergreens and fall for deciduous plants plant can get large and take on variable,! A Master of Arts in English from Seton Hall University a spread of three to five feet of privet or! Four feet apart standard trees dry sites of fields and shrublands that responds to... Also serves wildlife as a small tree that grows to 15 feet tall, evergreen plant... Are followed by bunches of red berries feet tall best if kept trimmed and full in before you get little! Clean edges, there is an evergreen shrub hardy to far lower temperatures those! Landscape with evergreens for hedging evergreen privet hedge these criteria, although there are poor choices, too clusters and can 4. The same if clumps are planted 5 ’ apart planting your living screen, not!, spreading, evergreen shrub that grows to 15 feet and a moderately temperate planting..