Garden Privet 'Argenteum'

'Argenteum' is a beautiful variegated form of the common Garden Privet, offering a brighter and softer aesthetic than the standard green or gold varieties. This semi-evergreen shrub (it may drop leaves in very harsh winters) features mid-green leaves with irregular, creamy-white margins, which can lighten up darker corners of the garden. It is a vigorous grower and forms a dense, bushy hedge very quickly, making it ideal for privacy screening. In summer, it produces panicles of small, creamy-white flowers with a distinctive, heavy scent that some find polarizing but which insects adore. These are followed by small, shiny black berries in autumn. Privet is famously tough, tolerating heavy pruning, urban pollution, and most soil types. 'Argenteum' adds a touch of elegance to a functional boundary and works well in both formal and informal settings. It should be trimmed two or three times a year to maintain a crisp shape.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Most well-drained soils.

Hardiness: H6 — down to −20°C.

Flowering: Jul, Aug.