If you are not averse to chemicals, and can still buy it where you live, then Roundup will kill them without harming other plants, as long as you put it only on the privet leaves. We are happy to have any ornamental like these. If you plant further apart, then they wont make a hedge. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I planted 4 privet ovolufulium (California privet I believe) 8 feet apart. I assume this is a privet hedge, in which case you can cut it almost to the ground maybe 12 inches in late winter. Lets face it Privet has a bad reputation. This is a plant that will grow rapidly and crowd out your garden, as well as producing some dull flowers that never the less seed profusely, and have already spread into many north-eastern forests. I have been going through some pretty miserable allergy problems. A google search led me to this article. Typical plant to find in a neglected lot probably escaped from a surrounding garden at some time. Will it survive in our hardy winters? I have, over the last few years, noticed that it seems to die from the top down since Ive cut what I thought were dead branches off at the bottom only to find the bottom very healthy. It should have been contained in the jungles of Southeast Asia from where it cameI am in the process of trying to eliminate it from my 483 acre forestalmost IMPOSSIBLE !!! The flowers are tiny and white with little smell and the leaves are dark and shiny. LIgustrum x ibolium is a hybrid that does produce berries, but in the general confusion surrounding privet I cant see if those seeds are going to grow or not. Is there anywhere I can send a picture of my privet growing in Michigan for identification? This is an interesting one! Its a great way to open up an enticing glimpse of borrowed landscape, such as a tree or an interesting building: Video: Will privet cope with hard pruning? Can I let them grow naturally? How do you feel about the Loense Privet? I live in West Texas (Zone 9a) and came across this page through a Google search. Sounds cool! For a long hedge its often quicker to dig out a planting trench than make individual holes. I do trim it once or twice a year. Do you have any thoughts as to what could be going on? Ours! I suggest that wait so that they establish and have the strength to respond well to the hard pruning. As of today when I trimmed it, it is 5 6 tall and about 3 wide on average. If you trim it in spring, though, you can remove most or all the flowering stems, so problem solved. Very hardy where you are, but its not evergreen. It nice to be able to get solid information out, and even better when its appreciated. There is an awesome Privet hedge that runs along the road in front of the house. Thanks for all of the great info! No flowers = no berries, and no sprouting plants in your yard, or anywhere else. Yes, when privet seeds it can sprout prolifically. I am so relieved to read that! We have a large number of berries, many more than ever before hanging like grape clusters. I hesitate to give a zone as it depends on whose chart you are looking at. Just removed 20+ ft. Burford hollies. Thank you in advance. Yes, its slower than privet (just about everything is!) I love this tree on the side of my house (12 ft wide) that will shade my kitchen window and I can hang a hummingbird feeder from in the middle of my small garden sanctuary. How would I know if its dead or just traumatized? Thanks so much this helpful information. Glad you like it. On the other hand, many birds use the seed as a food source, while also distributing the plant around, so its a judgement call on what is more important. Im not sure which type Privet I have but they sure can make you feel miserable. I was told that it has the longest lasting leaves. Thank you in advance. They might not be native, but when they make flowers, the bees love them, and the berries attract hundreds of Robins and Cedar Waxings that feed off of them for weeks. I am excited to plant them and am looking forward to that sweet, summer smell every time I walk out of my front door. I found a bunch wild Privet flower on my bike trail in Germany. Is it made into an essential oil or anything! I live in Houston. What is the best time of year to plant this privet? It was created at North Carolina University by a reputable scientist, Dr. T. Ranney, so I would take his word for it. We offer 3 days to report any problems with your order. But its non-native, pops up all over because of the birds, and the berries are toxic to people (and, I think, mammals.) The blooms are white and are shaped like a bloom from a chestnut tree; a skinny triangle shape. Very minimal flowering- thinking because I trim. I just pulled up a dead privet this morning, which came out easily by just yanking; there were no roots. Can I apply brush-strength herbicide without hurting other plants in that bed (huge sago palm, crepes, the variegated privet)? I want to create a hedge for privacy around my patio. Bare root plants need to be planted within 2-3 days of receiving unless weather-related problems prohibit planting. Blue Holly is slow, and depending where you are it might take a long time to reach 6 feet, if it ever did. I live in the Nashville, TN area and am in the process of doing some re-landscaping at our 23 year old home of the past 8 years. My bush/tree is 15 tall and is covered in large fragrant white blossoms right now. So Im not sure if these privets even if they do seed and disperse will they even put a dent in the seeds that come from the forest? Its ok with me if they mingle!! Depends on the variety and size you want it. The Northern Privet is a great shrub, perfect for a hedge or individual plant. My neighbor has the identical setup as Phils neighbor. The latter is a more popular choice for hedging as it can be clipped well into a formal hedge and is very tolerant of pollution. I have 6 Japanese privet that were planted in the back of my property as a hedge about 6 years ago. Definitely like a darker colored leaf. May 11, 2019. I live in Sacramento, CA and would love to site a couple of Taxum privets 3 ball topiaries ( approx 5 Ft) against a two story house with Northern exposure. I placed weed barrier cloth in the planted area with wood chips on top which has made it all low maintenance over the last ten years. Dont be surprised that almost any established broad-leaf tree will re-sprout from the stump it is certainly not something unique to privet. Trim in late summer as well and you wont even get many blooms. It stands about 12 to 15 feet tall and has little white flowers on it in the spring. The forests will thank you to avoid privet at all costs. They grow all over in my town in NorCal. Pick from foxgloves, anemones, cyclamen, ferns and more. Thank you! It thrives in zones 4 to 10 and is easy to grow. Your article set me on the right path. Any ideas would be appreciated. Perforated drain tile is easily invaded by roots, so the answer is probably yes. It will take care of itself and will even flourish in droughts. It appears to be evergreen and we get down to 10 below. Again I do not want trees that are constantly dropping leaves and berries or seeds or anything else like that. The privets look worse than ever. Its pollen season in Northern California and I am reacting like no previous year. 50 feet is the recommended distance for large trees, but for a small plant like this 10 feet is probably sufficient. Further south the Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) is the playground bully. My garden center has this and the vulgare. Good luck with your planting, and you are right, pruning and cleaning is the key with privet. Privet is sweet and floral, and definitely like honey, which is why the bees like it so much. but you will save many hours of trimming and leave an attractive legacy of plants that can live 1,000 years in their native habitat. You will receive a tracking number once your plants ship. Ruellia is very invasive in zones 9 and 10, but it sounds like it is just as bad in zone 8! One of them is probably 12 ft tall. I love the amazingly sweet scent of privet as well, but struggle to know which is the correct variety to get that juicy sweet fragrance from? What should I do? There is actually no solid definition of what is native it depends when you start measuring it, as many plants that are today part of the ecology were brought over by early settlers, or before that, native peoples via Alaska. The butterflies love the white flowers. We have soooo many native plants that evolved with our wildlife supports them and in so many ways that its crazy to me that people tend to buy mostly non native plants when we could help the eco system by buying natives and giving back habitat we have taken away with lawns and non native plants that supports only pest. Well it certainly grows there, but perhaps too well it is already established as an invasive plant there. We are in North Texas, right along the zone 8a/b line. I searched for an hour for a truly informative piece on the various types of privet and not just garden center specifics. Not sure about the invasive potential of Japanese Ligustrum in Tennessee, but I suggest you check. They were on sale at one garden center and perhaps I know why! Both of those are invasive, and are actually very similar (ovalifolium is one parent of x ibolium). A quick google says it could grow up to 33 feet? I prefer more native trees. Are they too mature to plant or should I aggressively cut them back to grow wide and tall ? I just want a 6 foot tall thin-ish border. It should be deer resistant, but that doesnt mean deer proof if they are hungry enough. I am going through a hard time financially and am eating a lot of greens in the form of weeds. Im in Louisiana. Privet is a robust, hardy hedging plant that grows virtually anywhere. Dont forget to start trimming well before it reaches that 4 feet just an inch or two to keep it really dense and leafy to the ground bottom wider than the top is the rule. Neem oil should solve the problem, but it will take multiple applications. the Waxleaf Privet, will this exact variety self seed by birds or wind? It is UGLY !!! Also it looks like a lot of the leaves are wilting or curling up too . I cut and cut as they come up and they just keep showing up all over the yard. I cant find any info on Korean privet though It says Ligustrum (not Vulgare) on the tag also. Water for the first week daily after planting. The Texanum Japanese Privet is available at a local nursery, but I want to make sure it will do what we want grow in that hot daytime sun, grow 10 feet high and not need a ton of water. I love privets but in my zone it seems that they are not evergreen. So plant one and save the bees! Building a new house in Denver, NC. . I live in southern California. This is a beautiful plant. Should we dead head them for the bees? I had a lot of space though and I diligently pruned and cleaned it up once a year after flowering, so that may have helped matters, but there were a lot of dead flower heads I could never reach. I am having terrible trouble with rust coloring of leaves, then it turns yellow, drys up but does not fall off. Hundreds have stopped for a feast on their way to the Monterrey peninsula in a fifty foot hedge in my yard in the San Fernando Valley. This plant is also fragrant and attracts butterflies. It does only grow to about 8 feet, as a bush, not a tall tree, so you wont even need to trim much an attractive plant and a good buy! If you dont stay on top of them, they will be a mess all over your yard! As everything I read says full sun, partial shade. You can purchase all types of trees, mosses, and shrubs with confidence knowing that we back each order with our Best Price and Quality Guaranteed. Are all ligustrum vicari non invasive? Look right? There are many of these growing on the wooded part of our property and I didnt know what they were but they are beautiful in bloom. Identifying plants is not easy if you dont actually see them, there are just too many plants, and even if they are privet, knowing which exact one is very hard. It has young golden leaves, turning light green as they mature. I have about 3 ft tall shrub that was identified as being a privet. are there other options for my garden other than the wax leaf privet? I just bought 2 of the Straight Talk Swift My question is, how long will a privet hedge live? On the other hand, I dont want to let nonnative invasives spread if I can help it. PLEASE do not plant ANY species of privet, and when removing it, be thorough in either removing the root or spraying it with herbicide to ensure that it will not return. I am looking for something evergreen as a backdrop for hydrangea on either side of a large window on the front of our house. Can I cut them out without killing the privet. Once or twice in a winter we might get a cold snap close to zero, but otherwise 20s and 30s are more the norm. Usually bloom in early to mid summer, but it can depend on trimming, since trimmed plants will bloom later, or not at all. Plant our shrub in areas where you're looking for a privacy hedge to block out unwanted sights, or try several as an individual plant with fantastic green foliage and pretty white flowers. Plus, it will grow over 20 feet tall, although I expect you are planning to trim it, but it could become too large. Store in a cool place and keep roots moist and covered with plastic until they can be planted. You could find you need to trim more than once a year, and if you do you probably wont see flowers at all. Only she has more than 10 privet trees that line her property. I live in zone 6a so none of the Privet is evergreen here. But totally gone so I can only go by the height. But, yes, its likely a good fit for you. Round-Up doesnt seem to phase them. Well, scent. I am in El Paso, Texas where various types of privet (I have 6 different varieties) do quite well. Ideal for Paradise or Mediterranean Garden designs. This product is a beautiful addition to your home that can grow up to 15' tall and 15' wide. If you cut them they re-sprout fast, but they dont flower much or at all so no new seeds to keep feeding the problem. As for bugs, I am afraid you will get what you get, and plants arent designed to satisfy our strictly human opinions on good and bad in the insect world! Thanks. I do work in National Parks and Forests, and privet is running rampant and is destroying all of the native trees that feed the animals. The salt will leach out of the soil with each rainfall, so they could recover dont give up yet. Its only about an inch in size/bloom but its not totally covered like most that Ive looked at; and the flowers have 5 to 7 petals each. Is California Privet another option? Or are they just done? Bees need all the help they can get. I would like to plant this in the vicinity of an underground perforated drainage tile.Does the root system get aggressive and grow into a perforated drain tile if the plant is close to the tile? It has been blossoming since may, but many of the blossoms are dying. If you want flowers and no berries, just trim as the flowers fade. It is way too hardy here in Northern California! Its a form of European privet, Ligustrum vulgare Cheyenne. You can trim this tree and control its size and shape too. We just were searching for the ID of a bush in our front yard which the bees adore so we could figure out what to do and found it is a Japanese privet. Be careful to check for bird nests before pruning. This evergreen shrub needs little maintenance and will provide plenty of privacy for years to come. If it was well established it will probably recover just cold damage. This product is acceptable in the heat and sun, so it'll have no problem in most climates. Then trim as it develops. Might take two applications, as they could re-sprout, but unlikely. You mention planting east to west, so which side of the fence will the privet be? Yes, Golden Ticket (a registered tradename for NCLX1, Plant Patent 27.301) has low fruit production and so is (mostly) non-invasive. I understand the best time to do a rejuvenation pruning is late winter/early Spring. Given the price of these little gems I am reluctant . Does very well in the pacific northwest. It has RUINED the landscape in the Southeastern U.S. Browse our selection today! Now I have TREES growing in my flower beds that are these privet hedges with more coming up and killing my irises, tulips and the rest. Plant each plant about 30cm apart and make sure you plant them at the same depth they were on the pot or look for a soil mark on bare root specimens. A variety listed as growing smaller will of course take longer to reach that height than a tall variety will, if you are willing to keep trimming it regularly. however I dont think I have seen it used as a clipped hedge. That sort of thing is always interesting. Wax myrtle, Myrica cerifera, would be a good choice for a hedge if you are in the southern part of NJ, south of Atlantic City, because wax myrtle does need zone 7. Thanks for the Great info!! I dont want berries! Impossible to know, of course, but that big, they seem more likely to be Chinese privet (Ligustrum chinense). I dont seem to have the sprout/seedling problem that many complain about. After a heavy crop last year there is a good chance it will be much lighter this year, and rainfall and temperatures play a part too. Am trying to decide on an informal (untrimmed) 5-6 ft hedgeseems to be between the wavy and curly leafed ligustrum. Thanks! Whether youre looking for trees to grace the front of your house or a privacy screen for your backyard, we provide the same high-quality selection of trees, shrubs, and mosses as found at your local nursery. That would be perfect for my privacy into the next yard as my neighbors yard is at a 3-4 higher grade than mine. Thank you for this article. I think theyre Ligustrum japonicum. That hedge was planted at the base of the wall and has grown to about 9feet high. I live in southeast Washington (Zone 7a), and need a fast-growing privacy hedge that will stay under 15-20 feet. Both garden privet, Ligustrum ovalifolium, and wild privet, Ligustrum vulgare, are common hedging plants, perfect for creating fast-growing privacy and shelter at garden boundaries. This is why you see so many conifer evergreens in zones 3 to 6 they truly are evergreen. it is not waxy leaved. Waxleaf is certainly invasive in some parts of the country, although it seems to be common privet that is a problem in NJ at this time. Both of them are more interesting than cherry laurel. Could these be dying from age? Would also consider a blue holly. . Also, some varieties hardly ever bloom, others do it a lot perhaps you have a non-blooming one? Plenty of helpful info here. Does this type of shrub exist? Just some info to help you figure it out or for you to direct me to where I might find help. It would seem by the age of the house , that our hedge could likely be over 100 years old. By mid-spring in the following year the cuttings should be showing signs of growth. Apparently spring and fall are robust times for their pollens. I live in Massachusetts. . Studies done on this subject suggest it is minimal, once a plant has established wild populations. They were exposed to bay water tidal flooding for several days. All you need to know about growing, caring for and pruning privet hedges. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer! The best way to apply Round-Up in a selective way is by putting it in a bucket, putting on rubber gloves, and using a sponge to spread it on the leaves. Removing lower branches to make space beneath it, and removing any dead or very weak branches during early growth, is about all you need to do. My online search for privet tonight brought me to your article it is EXACTLY what I needed! However, wet root rot can be an issue if you plant too deep in wet soil. Easily one of the most enjoyable items in our.yard. There are, after all, 50 species, and only two or three are invasive anywhere. Hi It still came back!! What are your thoughts? Did it even when tenants were out. Yikes. I hope this helps educate and spread knowledge. Thank you for such an insight about the plant. I have variegated privet, and I love it (needs to be trimmed). The roots are really tough to dig up. They STINK! You can, but they will grow back fast. It is sometimes listed as a hybrid, but it probably isnt. I live in Northern California just outside of the wine country so we have hot summers. Perhaps it is growing in a lot of shade? I remember the scent in The California Bay area in late summer to early Autumn mostly. Not sure what people are talking about with comments invasive and seedlings everywhere. A twig with green leaves is pretty hard for anyone to identify, a botanist would likely refuse to even try. The bay berry, Myrica pennsylvanica, is a lot hardier, and just as salt resistant, but shorter and probably slower growing too. Im tired of laurel and the thujas around here seem afflicted with something, so am wary of adding more. And, if so what spacing on that? Just a thought. My other fav btw is the Fatsia japonica (prefers semi shade), kinda reminds me of a papaya tree because of the leaves. the fence is actually north east to south west with the privet being planted on my side which is the more north western side. I never understood the privet hatred amongst gardeners. This has a different style of foliage from most other evergreens I have been looking at. I cant find any at other centers nearby. It was also unkept by previous owners so it grew to 4-6 feet deep. Snap up great exclusive offers from our carefully chosen partners. Cannot well tolerate the odor. It continues to attempt to do the same in my own yard. And now thinking I should return. If not, I was considering planting cherry laurel in place. Im zone 5a and its a light shade spot. If you live in the north-east, then European privet (Ligustrum vulgare) also called common privet, is the main bad-guy. I live in the foot of the Catskills in Sullivan County NY not far from the Delaware River, in a zone sometimes identified as 5, sometimes 4. Thank You. Japanese privet is a small tree, but if planted with enough space allowed for their growth, it is an attractive and very tough plant and a great choice for a difficult area. Notice that it is worse when you trim a lot, so take a break from trimming while you get it under control. We have the wax leaf in our front yard and it is beautiful and serves that area very well. Way too fast! Just happened on this amazing blog. What a great, helpful article! Wait a few months and see what happens before declaring it dead even if the smaller branches are dead it could well re-sprout from the main limbs. Will the Texanum privet attract too many bees? Remember it is not Ligustrum vulgare, which is pretty invasive just about everywhere. This is a plant that comes in many varieties- there are hedges, trees, and privets come in a wide variety of sizes. Whoever planted ours was very enthusiastic and planted them about a foot apart, yet they thrived for a very long time. My favorite small tree with small (max 15-20 ft if not pruned smaller) and small root lengths (5 ft deep water makes them go downward). The zone 4 vulgaris is the only one I can have in our winter (-30 to +30 celcius) As a bonsaist, I use privets as bonsai and love it to be a very good trainer for beginners in the atr. You need some botanical training, and examples, to be able to do it with reasonable accuracy. Do not like nor do I care for the fusty harangue. Left untrimmed privet will flower profusely, while trimmed trees dont flower much at all. I think the flowers smell lovely. What do you recommend to get rid of the privets that sprout up randomly and constantly all over the yard for the past 18 years? This plant likes full sun and partial shade, so it's perfect for your full sun to part shade location at home. Has anyone ever heard of Cheyenne Privet? If not, I would think that when hot dry weather arrives they will be fine. I read the labels when I got home, and one of them was golden ticket, but the other two were just listed as ligustrum vicari. Can you help me decide? What would I have central Virginia? Any reason why? Shop online for your favorite plants, and we'll ship them directly to your home or business. The form called Texanum, which originated in that state but is widely grown today in California, reaches just a modest 6 to 8 feet tall. I like them separated with the more flowing look. The Lodense Privet is a form of common privet Ligustrum vulgare. Emma Crawforth, BBC Gardeners World Magazine, explains how to fill it, in our Quick Tips video: The leaves and berries of privet are poisonous. Thanks. Im looking for a screen hedge other than the overused laurel and thuja we have here. I suggest taking a piece, in bloom or with berries, to a local garden center, where you might get lucky and find someone who knows the local plants in your area. Of course a nursery that sells privet will sign its praises like any other snake oil sells man when in reality the allowance of privet bradford pears and its many new cultivators, Nandinas, periwinkle just to list a few invasive that should be band years ago!!! If you plan to use it as a hedge, and trim once or twice a year, it should have few flowers and even fewer seeds. Thanks much for any remedy! They should die, and then you CAN cut them short at the ground, because the roots should be dead too. It is messy and parking the car under it is not wise. Ill be planting a privet, and crape myrtlse to beginits not a large lot. I would go with Texas, as California grows too large for you, although it does clip well. When it comes to privet, small is almost always a virtue! I saw online in a Proven Winners posting a picture of Ligustrum-Golden Ticket. Open your plants and inspect the same day received. Other than pulling out the thousands of tiny seedlings, it is very difficult to get rid of. I want to plant some trees that are evergreen to provide privacy since I have two story homes surrounding me. I planted a privet in a 10 by 14 ft area. If you look at our Nandina, Barberry, and Buddleja, for example, you will see we tend to sell sterile varieties, or make it very clear which ones are not suitable for some areas. If they are taking over, perhaps you want to replace them with something less aggressive? They should do well. Im looking for an evergreen, fast growing, flowering and hardy plant as a privacy hedge. They are a nuisance! THank you. Keep plants well watered in the first two years and the area around the plants weed-free. It takes a pretty large dose to make a dog sick, so the odd leaf or two isnt likely to hurt. Will any form of privet be evergreen here? Any thoughts on the Straight Talk Privet? Further recommendations always welcome? One of the ones that was flourishing, dense, full and green, produced a tremendous amount of blooms. I diffently recommend this tree for close to buildings, side walks and patios. I assume you know that when you see wisteria in a forest, that there are native species of this genus? I am truly a fan. Thanks. We have a Ligustrum vulgare along the driveway that was here when we moved in 20 years ago. It is not going to be hardy with you. Staggering will always give you more density about 4 or 5 feet apart, with 3 between the rows, but again in depends on the variety. I also have deer and concerned that they will be eaten. They will eventually fall off, probably when the new growth comes, or at least they will be hidden by new leaves. My birds love the berries and eat all of them. OkI need some help. Fertilize and mulch with something rich, like manure or compost, keep it watered, and you will be amazed at the speed it will come back. All trees drop leaves at least for part of the year its the price of having plants. Initially we were thinking on planting Golden Privets but have read that they can flare up allergies for folks. In a position of dappled shade, loosen garden soil with a hand fork. It has taken over the yard next door, though was never planted there. The Texanum does drop a few leaves and flowers, but Ive yet to have another one grow nearby from seedlings. Although sometimes given a bad rap, this is usually a result of misidentification, since all privets are generally similar in appearance, and it takes a little knowledge and experience to identify them accurately. Cest la vielet them be! Dont worry, this variety is not a spreader that is usually the European privet, Ligustrum vulgare. Any thoughts on that variety or other suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Maybe thats a better solution for my specific scenario. Are the California Privet deer resistant? This product is a very durable plant. Used to be in a large pot, then 2 years ago I planted it in a garden next to our front porch. I think you have made an excellent choice. It will put up with almost anything but a very boggy soil. This makes it suitable for growing in very urban areas. I know all good things come to an end. based on 27084 ratings and reviews, planted with enough space allowed for their growth, http://www.guynesom.com/LigustrumOverview.pdf. Its a good hedge plant that isnt so vigorous as privet, and grows well in southern Cal. Flowering is much greater in sun. They should work out fine. But yes, diversity in planting is a great idea, and there are definitely plants that are over-planted in the wrong areas. Regular Ligustrum ovalifolium Vicaryi will set seed as vigorously as any other common privet will. May be a good option and definitely a tough looking one, however theres something really attractive about that wax leaf that adds a varied texture to the landscape. . I live in Qubec Canada. We want a full hedge about 4 ft high to block the wind and create privacy but not something that will block our view or overtake the entire bed. For low-maintenance, this plant stand out. Some Viburnums grow pretty tall, and perhaps the Prague Viburnum would be a good choice for you and your area.