Japanese spindle vs Oval-leaved privet

Japanese spindle and Oval-leaved privet are often considered for the same spot in the garden (hedge, screening). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Japanese spindle

Euonymus japonicus 2 m × 1.5 m after 10 years

An evergreen shrub with glossy, leathery leaves that takes clipping well, so it works as a low to medium hedge, a screen or a container plant, and…

Hedge

Full sun

Part shade

Shade

from about PLN 47

Oval-leaved privet

Ligustrum ovalifolium 3 m × 2 m after 10 years

An undemanding hedging shrub with glossy dark green leaves that thickens up quickly, grows in almost any soil and copes well with city air. It keeps…

Hedge

Full sun

Part shade

Shade

from about PLN 10

Key differences

Japanese spindle is evergreen, Oval-leaved privet is semi-evergreen.
Oval-leaved privet grows larger: 3 m × 2 m after ten years, against 2 m × 1.5 m for Japanese spindle (an estimate: sources differ).
Oval-leaved privet grows faster than Japanese spindle.
Oval-leaved privet is hardier: down to -23 °C, against -18 °C for Japanese spindle.
Oval-leaved privet has pollen that can cause allergies, Japanese spindle does not (an estimate: sources differ).

Which one to choose?

Japanese spindle is the better choice if it must screen in winter too, space is tight or someone in the family has a pollen allergy.

Oval-leaved privet is the better choice if you want quick results or the garden is cold or a frost pocket.

Watch out for

Japanese spindle

Only moderately hardy in Central Europe: at roughly -15 to -20 °C, or in strong winter sun and wind, the leaves scorch, and in a hard winter shoots can die back, especially on young and variegated plants. It usually resprouts in spring, but it is a risky hedge for cold, exposed sites. Euonymus scale is a common pest, and powdery mildew attacks dense, poorly ventilated plantings.

Oval-leaved privet

In the colder winters of Central Europe you cannot count on year-round screening: it drops its leaves in hard frost and shoots of young, not yet established plants may die back, although it resprouts in spring. Yellow variegated forms can be scorched after their first winters. It is notably susceptible to honey fungus, and powdery mildew, leaf spots and aphids occur. It does not tolerate waterlogging. In favourable spots it can seed itself around.

The data side by side

Feature	Japanese spindle	Oval-leaved privet
Group	Hedge	Hedge
Size after 10 years	2 m × 1.5 m	3 m × 2 m (uncertain)
Ultimate size	2.5–4.5 m × 1.5–2.5 m	3–5 m × 2–4.5 m
Growth rate	Medium	Fast
Light	Full sun, Part shade, Shade	Full sun, Part shade, Shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous
Hardiness	down to -18 °C (USDA 6, RHS H6)	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	no data	Medium (uncertain)
Foliage	Evergreen	Semi-evergreen
Flowering	May–July, green	June–July, white
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium	Medium
Maintenance	Medium	Medium
Planted as a hedge	3 plants per running metre	4 plants per running metre
For dogs	Toxic (uncertain)	Toxic
For cats	Toxic (uncertain)	Toxic
For children	Mildly toxic	Toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	about PLN 66 (< 40 cm)	about PLN 130 (100–150 cm)

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 26, 2026

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