Oval-leaved privet

Ligustrum ovalifolium

Japanese semi-evergreen shrub with broad oval leaves and a vigorous upright habit. The standard garden privet hedge of late 19th and 20th century British and North American suburbia.

Hardiness ratings

Oval-leaved privet hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 5–8 −28.9 °C to −6.7 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H5 −15 °C to −10 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 6–8 −18 °C to −1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 2–6 −10 °C to 15 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Standard suburban privet hedge — vigorous, dense, semi-evergreen, tolerates pollution and bad soils, clips well into formal hedges of any height
  • Distinct from wild privet Ligustrum vulgare (already in the database from batch 5) — oval-leaved privet has larger glossier leaves and is far more vigorous, but supports fewer native British insects
  • WARNING: Listed INVASIVE in parts of the eastern United States, the southeastern US, parts of southern Africa, New Zealand, and Australia — bird-dispersed seed escapes garden hedges into native bushland, do not plant in those regions
  • All parts mildly toxic — berries cause stomach upset if eaten in quantity

Pet caution: Oval-leaved privet is listed as potentially harmful to cats and/or dogs. Keep pets from grazing on it, and contact a vet if you suspect your animal has eaten some.

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Oval-leaved privet against your zones

Reference

Oval-leaved privet on Wikipedia