Privets & Allies
What are they?
These woody plants are members of the Olive family (Oleaceae), a family consisting of a great variety of trees and shrubs which are rather variable in their appearance. The privets and related species are evergreen or semi-evergreen, multi-stemmed shrubs with simple, entire or toothed, opposite leaves. They have white, tubular flowers which separate into four petal lobes.
Where are they found?
The privets are hugely popular for use as hedging, both in urban areas and in the wider countryside, especially on private estates. Phillyrea and Osmanthus are less often grown, but occasionally found in amenity areas, churchyards and other public spaces. European Privet is a native species of chalky soils that is common in the western half of East Anglia, less common to the east, but is also widely planted.
Identification
The glossy, evergreen or semi-evergreen, opposite leaves (they may drop during prolonged cold spells) coupled with white, four-petalled flowers are usually distinctive and should lead to this group. The flowers are often followed by black berries. The various species can usually be identified by leaf details alone.
European Privet Ligustrum vulgare
(Wild Privet) Native in woodland, scrub and hedgerows, most commonly on chalky soils, but also widely planted for hedging or pheasant cover elsewhere. Flowers June to July. Deciduous or semi-deciduous shrubs, typically to 2-3m in height when free-growing and forming an open, straggly bush. Leaves narrowly elliptical or lanceolate.
| |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
|
Oval-leaved Privet Ligustrum ovalifolium
(Garden Privet) Introduced from Japan as a garden ornamental and now hugely popular and widely planted for hedging or pheasant cover. Flowers June to July. Deciduous or semi-deciduous shrubs, typically to 2-3m in height when free-growing and clipped for hedging. Leaves broadly elliptical.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
|
Tree Privet Ligustrum lucidum
Introduced from China as a garden ornamental and occasionally grown in churchyards and amenity areas. Flowers July to August. An evergreen or semi-deciduous, large shrub or small tree, eventually developing a clear trunk. Can grow to 20m in height but typically much less. Leaves glossy green, thick and waxy. Flowers borne in large, showy trusses. Sometimes found as a cultivated form with variegated leaves.
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
Burkwood's Osmanthus Osmanthus x burkwoodii
A hybrid of cultivated origin. Occasionally planted in amenity areas, churchyards and other public spaces. Flowers March to April. An evergreen shrub, typically to 2-3m in height. Leaves very similar to those of the true privets, but differ in being evergreen with stiffer leaves that have lightly toothed margins. Flowers richly scented.
 |
 |
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
|
Broad-leaved False-privet Phillyrea latifolia
Introduced from the Mediterranean region as a garden ornamental. Occasionally planted in amenity areas, churchyards and other public spaces. Flowers March to April. An evergreen shrub or tree, typically 2-3m but sometimes reaching 10m in height, such as in Cromer, Norfolk. Leaves rather similar to those of the true privets, but highly variable, even on a single plant, from broadly ovate with sharp teeth, to lanceolate and with entire margins.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
|
Common Olive Olea europaea
Introduced from the Mediterranean region as a garden ornamental. Occasionally planted in amenity areas and other public spaces. The Common Olive was historically not hardy as far north as Britain, being intolerant of all but the mildest of frosts. However, climate change is seeing this species being planted more and more frequently and some specimens have already lasted a good 15 years without protection. Plants are still unlikely to bear ripe fruits, but this may well come within a few years. Mature trees are uprooted and imported from Mediterranean countries (especially Italy), so trees with mature stems may sometimes be encountered.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
|