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Common Privet seeds - Ligustrum vulgare

Ligustrum vulgare
Common Privet, European Privet, Prim, Prim-cut

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This vigorous and well-branched bush typically bears deciduous foliage. From early summer, it is adorned with creamy white, fragrant and nectar-rich flowers, followed by black berries that cling to the branches for an extended period. Easy to grow in any type of soil, very hardy, with rapid growth and excellent tolerance to pruning, the common privet is an outstanding hedging bush. It can be propagated by sowing in spring, after a period of cold stratification. Germination may be slow and irregular.
Flower size
10 cm
Height at maturity
4 m
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade, Shade
Sowing method
Sowing under cover
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Sowing period March to May
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Flowering time June to July
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Description

Ligustrum vulgare, or common privet, propagated by seed, offers a natural and economical alternative for obtaining new young plants. Easy to cultivate in our climate, it is particularly appreciated for forming dense clipped hedges. Its bushy foliage delights gardeners and birds who find refuge there, while its fragrant flowering attracts bees. When left untrimmed, it develops small black berries, loved by certain birds. Vigorous and fast-growing privet adapts effortlessly to various types of soil and exposures.

Native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North Africa, common privet easily adapts to most climates. Although it tolerates different soil types, it particularly thrives in chalky, fertile, and moist soils. This deciduous bush belongs to the Oleaceae family, just like lilac. It grows quickly and displays a bushy, well-branched habit, with upright and vigorous stems. Capable of re-sprouting from a stump, it also develops trailing shoots that self-layer naturally. At maturity, it typically reaches between 3 and 4 m in height and 2 to 3 m in width. Its dense foliage consists of narrow, ovate, dark green leaves, measuring 3 to 6 cm long. This foliage can disappear in winter. In June-July, if the bush has not been pruned in spring, it produces small creamy-white tubular flowers, pleasantly fragrant and favoured by pollinators, gathered in panicles of 10 to 12 cm. These flowers later give way to small shiny black berries in autumn, which partly persist through winter. Birds play a key role in dispersing the common privet's seeds. They consume its black berries in autumn and winter, then excrete the intact seeds in their droppings, often far from the parent plant. This dispersal method, called endozoochory, promotes the natural spread of privet. The leaves, flowers, and berries of the privet are toxic to humans if ingested. Additionally, its vigorous roots limit the growth of nearby perennial plants, so it is advisable to allow sufficient spacing when planting.
It is also a native bush which is beneficial for wildlife: with its highly fragrant and nectar-rich flowering, this privet supports pollinators. Its pollen can be allergenic for some sensitive individuals. The privet has great resistance to pollution.

This common privet is widely used for creating windbreak hedges. It can be shaped freely through pruning, to control its size or form topiaries. It can also be planted in groups, in borders, or in country hedges, to enjoy its flowering. Ligustrum vulgare can be paired with other bushes that flower in summer: fragrant mock oranges, Buddleja davidii, weigelas, boxwoods, yews...

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Privet, Ligustrum: planting, pruning and care
Family sheet
by Eva 14 min.
Privet, Ligustrum: planting, pruning and care
Read article

Common Privet seeds - Ligustrum vulgare in pictures

Common Privet seeds - Ligustrum vulgare (Flowering) Flowering
Common Privet seeds - Ligustrum vulgare (Plant habit) Plant habit

Flowering

Flower colour white
Flowering time June to July
Inflorescence Panicle
Flower size 10 cm
Fragrance Fragrant
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators

Foliage

Foliage persistence Semi-evergreen
Foliage colour dark green

Plant habit

Height at maturity 4 m
Spread at maturity 2.50 m
Growth rate fast

Botanical data

Genus

Ligustrum

Species

vulgare

Family

Oleaceae

Other common names

Common Privet, European Privet, Prim, Prim-cut

Botanical synonyms

Ligustrum insulense, Ligustrum insulare

Origin

Western Europe, North Africa

Product reference24000

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Planting and care

Sowing common privet seeds requires specific preparation. Start by soaking the seeds for 24 hours to rehydrate them. Then, subject them to cold stratification by placing them in moist sand at a temperature between 3 and 5°C for about 90 days, in the refrigerator. This step is crucial to break the seed dormancy. After this period, sow them in spring in a substrate kept moist, at a temperature between 18 and 22°C. ​

Once the seedlings are sufficiently developed and have several leaves, transplant them into individual pots filled with a mixture of compost and sand to promote good drainage. Keep them in a bright environment, protected from late frosts, until they are robust enough to be planted out in the open ground.

Very undemanding, Ligustrum vulgare thrives in ordinary soil (even chalky and clayey), deep, not too dry, and in a sunny or partially shaded position. It tolerates occasionally waterlogged soils and will grow in shade, though it will be less floriferous there. It is very hardy and withstands temperatures down to -17°C and below. It has good tolerance to sea spray and can be planted in coastal areas. Avoid planting it in arid conditions, in shallow soil that is too dry in summer.

 

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Sowing period

Sowing period March to May
Sowing method Sowing under cover

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Woodland edge
Type of use Border, Back of border, Hedge
Hardiness Hardy down to -29°C (USDA zone 5) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Exposure Sun, Partial shade, Shade
Soil pH Neutral, Calcareous
Soil moisture Moist soil, Ordinary, deep soil

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