Privet - Common (Ligustrum ovalifolium)

Our range of Common Privet bare root hedging plants (Ligustrum ovalifolium)

We have good strong privet plants which are 2 years' old (1+1 transplant specification).  These plants begin life as cuttings taken from top quality mother plants in stock beds and the cuttings are then transplanted in open fields to be grown on for a further growing season, well spaced out so that each plant has plenty of nutrients and moisture.

We also have Common Privet cell grown plants, which are grown for us by one of the UK's best specialist cell growers.

Common Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) Summary

Privet hedging makes a dense, vitrtually evergreen screen and is very popular in urban settings due to its high tolerance of pollution.  It is fairly fast growing so needs to be trimmed twice a year (or more often if you want to keep it very neat) and it can be cut into a formal shape.  It has white clusters of flowers but generally those are trimmed off and it's not really a flowering species because of the fairly pungent scent which is not all that attractive!  Because it can be grown bare root, and grows quickly, it is one of the most cost effective options for an evergreen hedge (it only loses it's leaves in very harsh winters).  It is grown from hardwood cuttings off good quality mother plants, treated with heat (trade secrets!), and then the cuttings are planted out into our fields for a year or more to mature into viable bare root hedging plants.

Soil and Situation

Privet grows throughout most of Britain, on any soils other than waterlogged soil, and it tolerates coastal situations and exposed sites as well as being one of the best choices for heavily polluted cities and town. Privet is good in full sun or partial shade.

Leaves, flowers and fruit

The leaves are dark green, oval and medium sized (approx 4cm) and are quite soft which helps with mechanical hedge trimmers.  Flowers are panicales of buds which open into white small flowers and then it has black berries in autumn which birds enjoy but are poisonous to humans and to animals if eaten in large quantities.

Please note – although this plant is described as “virtually evergreen” it does defoliate when lifted from our fields so is likely to be delivered without leaves.

Eventual height

Common privet would grow to about 3m if left unpruned.

This section gives definitions on the specifications of plants that we sell.  We are specialists in field grown (or bare root) plants which are grown in two ways.  The majority are grown from seed, some are ready within one growing season (seedlings or 1+0's) and some species require two growing seasons (1u1's).  In addition to growing from seed we also grow from small plants or cuttings (transplants) which are much more widely spaced (taking more land, more irrigation water, fertilisers and labour).  There are only a handful of bare root wholesale nurseries in the UK and of those even fewer grow transplants but Ray Jenkins has many years' experience of transplanting so we grow these in large volumes.  Ray has written this blog about the benefits of bare root plants and how they are grown and another blog which gives further detail on bare root specifications.

The detailed specifications are shown below.  If you are in doubt about what specification to use please email us on enquiries@rjtreesandhedging.co.uk with a description of the project (and photos if appropriate) and we will advise you.

1+0 - field grown in one season from seed, known as a seedling (sometimes called a whip), generally a slender single stem plant.   These are the cheapest specification and are particularly suitable for planting where weed competition will be less intense, soil is shallow or on exposed windy sites.  Gives a high root to shoot ratio and minimal plant "check".

2+0 - a 2 year seedling, field grown from seed in the same seed bed in two growing seasons where the species cannot be grown to a saleable plant from seed in one season

1U1 - 2 year old plant called an undercut, field grown for two seasons in the same seed bed and undercut by machine (a sharp blade cutting the roots under the soil level) after the first year to develop the root structure. We do this with several species which take 2 years to develop (eg oak, beech, hornbeam)

1+1 - 2 year old plant (transplant) grown from seed in the first year and then transplanted into a different area of the field and spaced out for the second growing season - a robust plant with a larger and more robust root system than seedling or undercut plant which will enable it to better withstand drought and weed competition. Often the best choice and the staple norm for farm hedging and this specification is a requirement of the Countryside Stewardship Grant

1+2- a 3 year old plant, two years field growing in the seedbed and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further two growing seasons giving a tall, stocky, bushy plant

2+1- a 3 year old plant, two years field growing in the seedbed and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further growing season, giving a strong bushy plant

3+1 - as above but field grown for a further growing season for more height and a very bushy plant

1+3- 4 year old, one year field growing in the seed beds and then transplanted (and spaced out) for three years, giving a very strong, bushy plant

2+2- 4 year old, two years field growing in the seed beds and then transplanted (and spaced out) for a further two years - a very mature plant suited to certain species like beech and hornbeam where we can offer almost instant hedging

and some that are a bit different.....

P9 - a plant grown in a greenhouse or polytunnel in a 9cm pot (for holly which germinates poorly in the field)

Cell grown - a plant grown in small deep cells (like a small yogurt pot) and then lifted out of those for transportation. Commonly used in forestry and large hedging projects.  Very high quality plants with excellent success rate.  See our blog on the benefits of cell grown plants.

C+1 or C+2 - a 3 or 4 year old plant initally started as hardwood cuttings grown on for a year as cell grown plants and then lined out in fields to grow on for a further 1 or 2 years (a technique used for Cherry Laurel)

0/1 - a hardwood cutting, then field grown for one season (for example for white willow, black poplar and osier)