Ligustrum vulgare - our native wild privet is a hardy perennial shrub with distinctive clusters of black berries that can still be found in our ancient hedgerows, particularly on calcareous soils. The more familiar Garden Privet was introduced around 1885 from Japan. Its advantage as a hedging plant is that it is completely evergreen.
Our native privet is only partially evergreen, has narrower leaves than its Japanese relative and the twigs under a lens can be seen to be distinctly downy.
It is very amenable to trimming and will grow almost anywhere, though its greedy surface roots will impoverish the soil. A poisonous plant, it yields green, black and yellow dyes as well as an ink. Young twigs can be used in basketry.
Good midsummer nectar for butterflies, bees, hoverflies and other beneficial insects, and the berries provide winter food for birds.Great for wildlife hedges.
2-year old saplings, approx 2 and a half feet tall, currently available, also seed.
Sow seed in autumn or spring in modules and pot on til good sized plants
before planting out as hedging.
