ExplorePlants

Common Privet

Ligustrum vulgare

Common Privet is a bushy plant that can grow tall and wide. It has shiny green leaves and small white flowers that smell sweet in the summer. This plant is often used to make hedges in gardens.

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The Common Privet is a dense, semi-evergreen to evergreen shrub featuring small, oval, dark green leaves. It produces fragrant clusters of tiny white flowers in summer, which later develop into shiny, spherical black berries that persist through winter.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderLamialesFamilyOleaceaeGenusLigustrum
Common Privet
aromatic trait badgeflowering trait badgeshrub trait badgesummer_blooming trait badge
Common Privet

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

"Privet" might come from the word "private," because it makes great privacy hedges.

Its wood is so tough it was once used to make small tools and walking sticks!

Some privet plants can live for over 100 years, growing into small trees!

The strong, sweet scent of its white summer flowers can fill an entire garden!

Special abilities

Ability

Pollution Buster

Common Privet can tolerate air pollution, which helps it thrive in cities and busy roadside environments.

Ability

Seed Spreader

Common Privet has berries that, though toxic to humans, attract birds to help spread its seeds far and wide.

Measurements & details

Height
200-500 cm
Spread
100-300 cm
Flower Size
0.5-0.8 cm
Bloom Season
Summer
Edible
No
Toxicity
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Drinks nectar from its fragrant white flowers.

eaten by

European Blackbird

Turdus merula

Safely consumes the privet's black berries in winter.

eats

Privet Hawkmoth

Sphinx ligustri

Its large caterpillars feed on privet leaves.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

While Common Privet is pretty, it's best to avoid eating its berries.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Common Privet?

200-500 cm

How wide does Common Privet spread?

100-300 cm

How big are the flowers on Common Privet?

0.5-0.8 cm

When does Common Privet bloom?

Summer

Is Common Privet edible?

No

Is Common Privet toxic?

Moderate

What is Common Privet's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is Common Privet pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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