Big Deal Green Privet 150/175cm Root Ball x 40

Green Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) is one of the most widely planted and reliably versatile hedging shrubs available, valued for its vigorous growth, dense semi-evergreen foliage, and adaptability to a wide range of conditions. With its neat, upright habit and small, glossy mid-green leaves, it forms an excellent boundary hedge, privacy screen, or windbreak in gardens of all sizes.

A fast grower capable of putting on 40–60cm of new growth per year, Green Privet quickly establishes into a full, bushy structure that responds exceptionally well to clipping and shaping. In mild winters it retains most of its foliage, earning its semi-evergreen reputation, while in colder spells it may shed some leaves before quickly regenerating in spring. Where plants are left untrimmed or lightly pruned, clusters of small, fragrant white flowers appear in summer, attracting bees and other pollinators, followed by glossy black berries in autumn that provide valuable food for birds.

Habit & Appearance

Form and foliage. Ligustrum ovalifolium produces a dense, bushy, upright habit with oval, glossy mid-green leaves held on vigorous stems. When clipped regularly it develops a tight, formal structure ideal for neat boundaries and screens. Left to grow more freely it takes on a softer, more informal character, reaching 2–4m in height, and can be maintained at any height to suit the available space.

Seasonal interest. The semi-evergreen foliage provides year-round structure and screening, while unclipped or lightly managed plants reward with panicles of small, creamy-white flowers in mid-summer. These are followed by clusters of glossy black berries in autumn and winter, adding wildlife value and seasonal interest beyond the hedge line.

Growing Conditions

Position. Green Privet thrives in full sun or partial shade, making it equally suited to open, sunny boundaries and shadier spots beneath trees or alongside buildings. It is fully hardy throughout the UK and tolerates exposed positions, coastal conditions, and urban environments with high levels of pollution.

Soil. One of its great strengths is its adaptability to almost any soil type, including clay, chalk, sandy, and loamy soils. It performs best in well-drained ground but will tolerate moderately poor or compacted soils, making it a practical choice where more demanding plants may struggle. Good drainage is preferable, though established plants show reasonable resilience to periods of wet.

Care & Pruning

Watering and establishment. Newly planted Green Privet should be watered regularly during dry spells throughout the first growing season to encourage deep rooting and rapid establishment. Once settled in, it is a robust and largely self-sufficient shrub requiring little additional irrigation except during prolonged drought.

Pruning and shaping. For a formal, dense hedge, trim once or twice a year — ideally in late spring after the first flush of growth and again in late summer. This encourages bushy, lateral growth and maintains a tight, well-defined shape. If wildlife value is a priority, delay or reduce summer trimming to allow flowering and subsequent berry set. Green Privet responds well to hard renovation pruning if an established plant has become overgrown, breaking readily from old wood to regenerate a full, dense structure.

Feeding. An annual top-dressing of a balanced general-purpose fertiliser in spring will support strong, healthy growth, particularly on poorer soils or where plants are clipped frequently. A mulch of well-rotted compost around the base helps retain moisture and suppresses competing weeds during establishment.

Ideal Uses

• Privacy hedging and screening for gardens, driveways, and boundaries

• Windbreaks for exposed plots, rural settings, and coastal gardens

• Formal or informal hedging in urban, suburban, and rural environments

• Wildlife-friendly planting providing flowers for pollinators and berries for birds

• Low-maintenance structure for new gardens or large-scale planting schemes