Common privet

Wild privet, Prim, Prim-cut

Also known as the common European privet, wild privet and common privet, this species is a deciduous shrub with a bushy growth habit. Grown for their lance-shaped foliage and small, unpleasantly scented, white flowers. These lead onto black berry fruits. They are good for a shrub border or as specimen plants and all make good hedging.

Planning

Difficulty

Easy

Flowering time

Summer

Fruiting time

Autumn

Harvesting

Generally not harvested.

Propagation

Seed

Sow seed in spring or autumn and keep moist.

Cuttings

Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer.

Special features

Attracts birds

Birds feed on the fruit.

Hedge plant

Make good hedges, reacts well to clipping to form formal hedges.

Attracts useful insects

Attracts bees.

Geography

Origin

Europe, North Africa, Southwest Asia.

Environment

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Soil moisture

Moist

Soil type

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Soil PH preference

Neutral, Alkaline, Acid

Frost hardiness

Half-Hardy

Personality

Family

Oleaceae

Flower colour

Creamy white, White

Scent

Mild

Problems

Susceptible to aphids, leaf spot, scale insects, leaf-mining moths, thrips, honey fungus, wilt.

Aphids

Aphidoidea spp.

Thrips

Phlaeothripidae/Thripidae/Aeolothripidae