How big does Wild privet grow?

About 3 m × 2.5 m after ten years (height × width). Its ultimate size is 3–4.5 m × 2.5–4.5 m.

What soil does Wild privet grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous.

Is Wild privet hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Wild privet be planted?

Plant it at least 1.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How far apart should Wild privet be planted?

Planted on its own, it needs 1.5 m between plants. For a hedge, allow 3 plants per metre.

How much water does Wild privet need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

How much does Wild privet cost?

It sells for roughly €8 to €8.90 in local shops, depending on size.

Wild privet

Ligustrum vulgare

Wild privet (Ligustrum vulgare) is a hedge plant that reaches 3 m × 2.5 m after ten years. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Toxic to dogs, cats and children. Sold in local shops from about €8.

Illustration of Wild privet — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Wild privet is a native, undemanding and very drought-tolerant shrub and the classic material for a clipped hedge: it grows fast, takes any amount of cutting and lives in almost any soil. If you let it flower, the strongly scented white panicles feed pollinators in early summer and the black berries feed birds in winter. Do not count on it for winter screening: it sheds most of its leaves after the first hard frosts and keeps fewer than oval-leaved privet does, though it is much hardier than that species.

Watch out for

In Central Europe it is semi-evergreen only in mild winters and sheltered spots: in hard frost it is almost bare, though it reliably leafs out again in spring. Because it grows fast, a tidy hedge needs at least two cuts a year, and the base goes bare if the hedge is wider at the top than at the bottom. Powdery mildew and leaf spot are common, anthracnose twig blight and root rot (in waterlogged soil) can do more serious damage, and aphids, privet hawk-moth caterpillars and weevils may feed on it. Seedlings come up in the garden from bird-sown seed and it also throws suckers. When in flower, its pollen and strong scent can trigger symptoms in people sensitive to the olive family (ash, olive), which you can prevent by clipping before it blooms.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Low
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 3 m × 2.5 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Semi-evergreen
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D June–July, white

Group	Hedge
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	3 m × 2.5 m
Ultimate size	3–4.5 m × 2.5–4.5 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Semi-evergreen
Flowering	June–July, white
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	yes
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	at least 1.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	150 cm
For dogs	Toxic
For cats	Toxic
For children	Toxic
Typical price	from about €8

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
25-35 cm	approx. €8
80-100 cm	approx. €8
size not stated	approx. €8.90

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Hedge plants Plants for screening Fragrant plants

Guide on the topic

Fast-growing hedges: how much each grows in a year The fastest hedge plant is the Leyland cypress, growing about 90 cm a year, followed by cherry laurel 'Novita', firethorn and western red cedar at about 50 cm a year, then privet at 40 cm. How long a 180 cm hedge takes to screen depends more on the size of plant you buy: several years from small plants, one or two summers from large ones, but at many times the price per metre. The tables use the current shop prices in your country.

Compare with similar plants

Wild privet vs Oval-leaved privet

Looks good next to it

Lavandin

Lavandula × intermedia

Mountain rock cress

Arabis caucasica

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