Preferred common name: Common Privet Other common names: Wild privet, European Privet, Prim Common Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) or Wild Privet is sometimes known as the European Privet. It is the only native privet, common in hedgerows & woodlands in England & Wales. This fast growing, semievergreen hedge has medium sized leaves, with clusters of creamywhite flowers in July, attractive to insects. Common Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) is shade tolerant & an asset to wildlife with the flowers in July & long bunches of shining black fruits in winter, attractive to birds. In cold winters it will lose its leaves. The stems are stiff, with greybrown bark spotted & small brown lenticels. The flowers are produced in mid summer & have a strong, sweet fragrance. The fruit is a small glossy black berry 6 8 mm diameter, containing one to four seeds. The berries are poisonous to humans but readily eaten by thrushes, which disperse the seeds in their droppings. The Common Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) was a very popular hedge in Elizabethan gardens.