Digging deeperPlant Library

Other Names:  Golden Vicary Privet

Description:

A common pruned hedge and garden shrub, takes pruning exceptionally well; colorful yellow foliage all season long, an excellent color accent plant; easy to grow, handles pollution well but needs full sun for best color

Ornamental Features

Golden Privet has attractive gold deciduous foliage on a plant with an upright spreading habit of growth. The glossy pointy leaves are highly ornamental but do not develop any appreciable fall color. It has panicles of lightly-scented white flowers hanging below the branches from late spring to early summer.

Landscape Attributes

Golden Privet is a dense multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and can be pruned at anytime. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Golden Privet is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Golden Privet will grow to be about 8 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 8 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.