Golden Privet Hedge, also known as Ligustrum ovalifolium 'Aureum' is an attractive variegated vigorous evergreen / semi evergreen hedge species with white flowers in the summer, green foliage that have gold margins and black berries that are a hit with birds and other wildlife.
Ligustrum ovalifolium 'Aureum' is excellent for screening and formal hedges. During hard winters you may find Golden Privet will lose some of its leaves but shoots right back in spring.
Growth rate: Fast 30-60cm per year
Overall height: Medium up to 5 metres
Position: Full Sun, Exposed, Sheltered
Root Types: Bare Root, Pot Grown
Choose from our wide range of Golden Privet Hedge sizes and root types, or browse our other varieties of Privet Hedging plants.
Check our range of Privet Hedging or our other popular varieties of hedge that can be used as a great alternative to Golden Privet Hedge.
Golden Privet Hedge is a popular evergreen or semi-evergreen hedging species with attractive, variegated foliage. Its leaves are green with gold margins and it produces white flowers in the summertime. These flowers are followed by black berries that attract wildlife and birds.
This species is used for screening, making formal hedges, and can even provide a living fence if maintained properly. Although it may lose some of its leaves in hard winters, Golden Privet Hedge will quickly rebound in springtime.
Golden Privet Hedge is native to eastern Europe and western Asia. Privet hedging was introduced to the UK in the late 19th century and has been widely used in gardens since then. It can be found growing wild along roadsides, hedgerows and woodland edges throughout Britain and Ireland.
Golden Privet hedging is available in several different root types, including pot grown plants, bare root hedging, root balls and instant hedging plants. Bare root plants are the most cost effective root type and are available from October to April.
Golden Privet hedging is an excellent choice for low-maintenance hedging that provides year-round colour with minimal effort. This attractive and versatile evergreen or semi-evergreen species produces white flowers in the summer, green foliage with gold margins, and black berries which are a hit with birds and other wildlife.
It is easy to maintain, grows quickly, making it an ideal choice for any garden regardless of size or shape. With its many benefits and features, Golden Privet plants can be a beautiful addition to your landscape!
When it comes to growing a golden privet hedge, planting conditions and selecting the right soil type and position is key to ensuring your plants thrive. Golden privet plants will grow best in moist but well-drained soils that are rich in organic matter.
Soil types: Golden Privet Hedge plants prefer moist but well-drained soils with plenty of organic matter; such as loam or sandy loam soil types that have good water retention capabilities. The soil should also be slightly acidic – pH 6-7 for optimal growth and health of the plant. Adding compost or manure when planting into heavy clay soils can help improve drainage and aeration as well as providing extra nutrients for the plants’ roots. Additionally, mulching around the base of each plant helps retain moisture during dry periods while suppressing weeds at the same time.
Preferred Position: When positioning a golden privet hedge plants it is important to take into account how much sunlight is available throughout the day so that you provide adequate light levels. They prefer full sun or partial shade positions, although they will tolerate some shade. With these conditions met, your golden privet hedge can reach heights of up to 3m over time.
For further information on planting privet please read our guide on Planting a Privet Hedge
Pruning your Golden Privet hedging is an important part of keeping it healthy and looking its best.
Ideally, pruning should be done twice a year; once in late spring to remove any dead or damaged growth and again in mid-summer to reduce the size of the hedge if necessary.
Pruning at these times helps encourage new growth while maintaining the desired shape of the hedge. It is also important to trim away any branches that are growing too close together so that they do not become entangled with one another as this can lead to disease and pest infestations.
For pruning advice and tips, make sure you read our comprehensive Privet Hedge Pruning Guide
Yes, golden privet is a fast-growing species and grows at a rate of 30-60cm per year so it is important to prune it regularly in order to maintain the desired size and shape of your hedge.
Golden privet hedging can grow to a maximum height of 3m if conditions are right.
Yes, golden privet is a great choice for wildlife as it produces black berries in the fall which are favoured by birds and other wildlife. The foliage of the plant is also good for providing cover and protection to small animals such as hedgehogs and voles. Additionally, its fragrant white flowers act as a natural insect repellant during the summer months.
No, golden privet hedging is a semi-evergreen species which means it will retain most of its foliage throughout the winter months. This makes it an attractive and versatile choice for any garden regardless of size or shape.
Yes, golden privet is a hardy species and will tolerate temperatures down to -15°C (5°F). In addition, it is also relatively drought-tolerant once established.
To learn more about Privet Hedging, take a look at our helpful Hedging Guides & FAQ's
