California Privet - Ligustrum Ovalifolium

California Privet is a popular evergreen shrub frequently used in landscaping due to its numerous benefits and aesthetic appeal. When incorporated into gardens and outdoor spaces, it brings forth its unique attributes, contributing to the overall beauty and functionality of the landscape. 

California Privet an Evergreen Privacy Hedge 

It grows exceptionally fast. Within a matter of weeks every spring, it'll grow into trees roughly 15 feet in height and just as wide, making it quite effective as a wind barrier and privacy hedge. It's an attractive tree that sports many white blossoms that contrast nicely with the green leaves and reddish-green petioles. The underside of the leaves turns from forest green to greenish-yellow, creating attractive flashes of color throughout the hedgerow.

The Flower Cycle

In early spring, hedges of this type sprout white, strong-smelling blooms. The blooms have an earthy, rustic smell that fits with country gardens. The flowers themselves can grow to more than 4 inches in diameter. The hedge also produces smooth, nearly black berries, contrasting the green oval leaves, greenish-red petioles, and white flowers.

 Unique Foliage 

California Privets grow together to form a veritable wall, the thick branches and stems intertwining beneath the lovely oval leaves. The hedge can also be cut into various shapes in the garden to create eye-catching sculptures to accent various patches of colorful flowers. It's a hardy plant, too, so it will retain its good looks in almost any climate or weather.

There are variants of this hedge, too, and they provide pleasing looks through two-toned leaves and flowers of different shades of white. Most often, the secondary leaf color is yellow, while sure of these hedges have greyish-white berries rather than black.

Transform Your Landscape 

Pollinating insects, such as bees and many species of butterflies, visit the flowers all spring. The butterflies provide more color to the mien of any of these hedges. The leaves are also essential in the life cycle of certain butterfly species because the shade they provide is helpful for the caterpillar form of these species. All in all, these hedges are an attractive and influential member of any garden, either as a barrier or after being decoratively sculpted.