Side by side
Laurustinus or garden privet? How to tell them apart
Viburnum tinus · Ligustrum ovalifolium
How to tell them apart – laurustinus: evergreen shrub with opposite, dark green leaves and pinkish-white flower heads in the middle of winter; garden privet: smaller leaves, white panicles in July and black berries.
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Garden privet Ligustrum ovalifolium
How do you recognise them?
- Laurustinus
- Evergreen shrub with opposite, dark green leaves and pinkish-white flower heads in the middle of winter.
- Garden privet
- Semi-evergreen hedging shrub with oval, glossy, opposite leaves.
- Compared with laurustinus: smaller leaves, white panicles in July and black berries.
| Laurustinus | Garden privet | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Opposite, 4–10 cm, oval, untoothed, dark green and glossy, with hairs in the vein axils. | Opposite, oval, 3–6 cm, untoothed and glossy; stays on the shrub in mild winters. |
| Flowering | Pink buds and white, lightly scented flowers in flat heads, from November to April (December–April). | White, heavily scented panicles in July (June–July). |
| Fruit | Metallic blue berries in summer; poisonous. | Glossy black berries, poisonous. |
| Bark | Reddish young twigs, later greyish-brown. | Greyish-brown and smooth. |
| Shape and height | Shrub, 2–3 m | Shrub, 2–4 m |
| Site | Sun to shade, any garden soil, normal | Sun to shade, any garden soil, normal |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted | No, planted |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees and birds | Yes, for bees, butterflies and birds |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Yes, take care with children and pets | Yes, take care with children and pets |
| Pruning months | April–June | May–June and August–September |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Laurustinus is poisonous to people and pets: take care with children and animals.
- Garden privet is poisonous to people and pets: take care with children and animals.
Read on
- Plant profile: Laurustinus
- Plant profile: Garden privet
- Laurustinus: when and how to prune
- Garden privet: when and how to prune
- Identification key: the question that separates them
Also looks like
Identify by feature
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.