Oval-leaved privet vs Common yew

Oval-leaved privet and Common yew 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.

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

Common yew

Taxus baccata 4 m × 2.1 m after 10 years

Its dense, dark green foliage makes a useful evergreen hedge or a clipped garden feature, even in shade. It tolerates pruning well, but eventually…

Hedge

Full sun

Part shade

Shade

from about PLN 6.40

Key differences

Common yew is highly toxic to children, dogs and cats: even a small amount can be life-threatening. Do not plant it where small children, dogs or cats go. Needles, shoots, bark and seeds are highly poisonous to people, dogs and cats; dried clippings remain dangerous. Only the fleshy red aril is non-toxic, while the seed inside is poisonous, so the fruit should not be treated as edible.
Oval-leaved privet is semi-evergreen, Common yew is evergreen.
Common yew grows larger: 4 m × 2.1 m after ten years, against 3 m × 2 m for Oval-leaved privet (an estimate: sources differ).
Oval-leaved privet grows faster than Common yew (an estimate: sources differ).
Common yew is hardier: down to -29 °C, against -23 °C for Oval-leaved privet.

Which one to choose?

Oval-leaved privet is the better choice if small children, dogs or cats use the garden, space is tight or you want quick results.

Common yew is the better choice if it must screen in winter too or the garden is cold or a frost pocket.

Watch out for

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.

Common yew

Waterlogged, poorly aerated soil can cause root rot and plant death. Prolonged hot, dry weather may require watering, especially while young; winter wind and sunshine can cause foliage browning. Scale insects, vine weevils and needle or shoot diseases can occur in Central Europe, but generally do not make it a poor garden choice. Male plants release allergenic pollen in spring.

The data side by side

Feature	Oval-leaved privet	Common yew
Group	Hedge	Hedge
Size after 10 years	3 m × 2 m (uncertain)	4 m × 2.1 m (uncertain)
Ultimate size	3–5 m × 2–4.5 m	10–20 m × 8–15 m
Growth rate	Fast	Slow (uncertain)
Light	Full sun, Part shade, Shade	Full sun, Part shade, Shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Hardiness	down to -23 °C (USDA 6, RHS H7)	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	Medium (uncertain)	Low
Foliage	Semi-evergreen	Evergreen
Flowering	June–July, white	March–April, yellow, green
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium	Medium
Maintenance	Medium	Medium
Planted as a hedge	4 plants per running metre	3 plants per running metre
For dogs	Toxic	Highly toxic
For cats	Toxic	Highly toxic
For children	Toxic (uncertain)	Highly toxic
Typical price	about PLN 130 (100–150 cm)	about PLN 8.60 (< 40 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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