So that's what I'm going to call them throughout this article. Privet is another plant species with many cultivars that are excellent for evergreen formal privacy hedges. Posted by Brent Wilson on 6/26/2016 to Planting & Growing Tips. The reason why privet plants are some of the best types of hedge bushes is due to their dense, fast-growing foliage. These plants can be evergreen, semi-evergreen, or deciduous depending on where you live and the variety you choose. Hedges planted in the autumn and winter have a longer time to get their roots established in the soil while the soil is moist and will need less watering, if any at all, in the summer months - so this is a good time to plant if you are not able to water your newly planted hedging plants. Privet, with its lustrous deep-green foliage, makes a dense privacy hedge or living fence. When allowed to grow freely, some species can reach up to 20 ft tall, creating a close-knit screen for absolute privacy. Scientifically speaking, all privets are Ligustrum. But beware: They can be invasive in some areas, like the Southeast. A benefit of Ligustrum’s approximately 50 species: They grow fast and can be pruned hard without consequence. Single-plant varieties (lilac, spirea, forsythia) and evergreens (boxwood, arborvitae, holly) suit formal hedge designs. Background. A privet is a flowering plant in the genus Ligustrum.The genus contains about 50 species of erect, deciduous or evergreen shrubs, sometimes forming small or medium-sized trees, native to Europe, north Africa, Asia, many introduced and naturalised in Australasia, where only one species extends as a native into Queensland. Semi-evergreen privet hedges are stout guardians of privacy. Go for an informal layered effect using a flowering plant variety or different plants of varied heights. Boxwood is most commonly used as a decorative hedge in formal gardens, but it also shines in less maintained setups. Privet hedges suit closer planting, with four hedges suiting a 3-foot planting area. For mature hedges, we recommend that you plant at a depth of at least 30-inches, but check with the consultant at your garden center before planting. The Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum) is top of the good guys.Although sometimes given a bad rap, this is usually a result of misidentification, since all privets are generally similar in appearance, and it takes a little knowledge and experience to identify them accurately.Japanese privet is a small tree, but if planted with enough space allowed for their growth, it is an … Privets have a long tradition of serving as fence substitutes, for grand seaside Long Island mansions and modest suburban gardens alike. When planted right and in the right spot Ligustrum and privet plants are exceptionally easy to grow. Some species have become widely naturalized or … Flowering shrubs create magical effects that fences cannot. They are easy to grow and can reach 4 to 15 feet and can spread from 4 to 8 feet. The size of the plants you buy determines the planting depth. is a shrub originally imported from Asia in the mid-1800s for hedges and other landscaping use.The privet colonies found across Pennsylvania and other Mid-Atlantic states are a gradient of four different species: border (L. obtusifolium), common (L. vulgare), Japanese (L. japonicum), and Chinese (L. sinense).It is difficult to differentiate … Privet: A Field Guide. Privet (Ligustrum spp.) https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-plant-a-hedge How To Plant Ligustrum And Privet Shrubs.