Preferred common name: Common Privet
Other common names: Wild privet, European Privet, Prim
Common Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) or Wild Privet is sometimes known as the European Privet. It is the only native privet, common in hedgerows and woodlands in England and Wales.
This fast growing, semi-evergreen hedge has medium sized leaves, with clusters of creamy-white flowers in July, attractive to insects. Common Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) is shade tolerant and an asset to wildlife with the flowers in July and long bunches of shining black fruits in winter, attractive to birds. In cold winters it will lose its leaves.
The stems are stiff, with grey-brown bark spotted and small brown lenticels. The flowers are produced in mid summer and have a strong, sweet fragrance. The fruit is a small glossy black berry 6–8 mm diameter, containing one to four seeds. The berries are poisonous to humans but readily eaten by thrushes, which disperse the seeds in their droppings.
The Common Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) was a very popular hedge in Elizabethan gardens.
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