Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
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golden privet tree

The golden privet tree stands out as an eye-catching choice for hedging, screening, or specimen planting in New Zealand gardens. Known for its striking, vibrant yellow-green foliage, this versatile shrub-to-small-tree offers visual interest throughout the year. Its dense growth habit makes it an ideal option for creating privacy or windbreaks, while its tolerance for trimming allows you to shape it just how you like. Whether you want a bright hedge line, a foliage-rich backdrop, or a stand-alone specimen, the golden privet tree brings colour and structure to a range of landscaping designs.

Podocarpus totara 'Aurea' tree with yellow foliage.

Podocarpus totara 'Aurea' (Golden Tōtara)

Podocarpus totara Aurea, commonly known as Golden Totara, features golden foliage composed of short, needle-like leaves held densely. It typically grows to 10 m in height and 3 m in width, and can be trimmed as necessary.

Buy Podocarpus totara 'Aurea' (Golden Tōtara)

From $30.29

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Trees

Height: 10.00 m

Spread: 3.00 m

Tolerances: Coastal, Extended dry periods, Hardy, Wind

Garden uses: Hedging, Parks, Ponds, Pool areas, Screening, Specimen

Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Native

Acer platanoides 'Princeton Gold'

Acer platanoides 'Princeton Gold' is a striking Norway Maple prized for its brilliant golden yellow foliage that holds its colour through spring and summer before developing warm golden autumn tones. Its broad, rounded canopy provides excellent shade while creating a vibrant feature in larger gardens, parks, and avenues.

Buy Acer platanoides 'Princeton Gold'

From $349.95

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Trees

Height: 10.00 m

Spread: 7.00 m

Flowering time: Summer

Tolerances: Hardy

Garden uses: Parks, Ponds, Specimen

Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, Frontyard, Japanese

Features and Benefits of the Golden Privet Tree

Golden privet tree is loved for its lively golden leaves that illuminate garden borders and pathways. When clipped regularly, the foliage grows densely, making it one of the most effective living screens. Unpruned, it can mature into a small tree with soft, arching branches. Its adaptability is another advantage—the golden privet tree copes well with sun or partial shade and tolerates a variety of soil types. It’s simple to maintain and responds well to trimming, enabling you to keep formal shapes, rounded hedges, or informal screens.

Ideal Uses in the Garden

If you’re after vibrant boundaries or a colourful privacy screen, the golden privet tree is an excellent pick. Hedges can be kept as low clipped borders or grown taller for year-round shelter. It works beautifully when paired with other golden-foliaged varieties to create a cheerful and impactful garden palette. Plant the golden privet tree as a feature specimen, or mix it with evergreens and deciduous trees for added seasonal interest.

For gardeners interested in more privacy options, consider Ligustrum lucidum (Tree Privet), renowned for its glossy leaves and upright habit. Or, for a more architectural look, Acer platanoides Princeton Gold (Princeton Gold Maple Tree) offers a rich, golden display in spring that gradually softens during summer.

Growing and Caring for Your Golden Privet Tree

The golden privet tree is easy to grow in most conditions. It thrives in both full sun and partial shade, though its brightest colour appears in sunnier spots. Well-drained soil is ideal, and adding compost at planting time gives young plants a good start. Water regularly until established, then reduce as the plant matures—privet is drought tolerant once settled in.

Trim in late winter or early spring to encourage density, and again in mid-summer if you want a crisp formal look. Watch for strong growth spurts, and simply snip back to shape. Privet generally has minimal pest or disease problems, adding to its reputation as a fuss-free tree.

Complementary Golden Foliage Trees

If you love the glowing impact of the golden privet tree, you might also like to add Ulmus Louis Van Houtte (Golden Elm), admired for its vivid golden leaves and statuesque shape, or Podocarpus totara Aurea (Golden Tōtara), a New Zealand native with beautiful, pale yellow-gold foliage. For striking contrast in larger spaces, Fraxinus excelsior aurea brings soft gold tones and a stately form to any landscape.

Enhance Your Garden with the Golden Privet Tree

Whether you’re hoping for a low-maintenance hedge, a lively garden border, or a dynamic specimen plant, the golden privet tree delivers enduring colour and form. Experience how this reliable garden favourite can brighten your outdoor space and provide structure with its easygoing nature and lush, golden foliage.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

golden privet tree

Podocarpus totara 'Aurea' (Golden Tōtara)

Acer platanoides 'Princeton Gold'

Did you find what you are looking for?

Features and Benefits of the Golden Privet Tree

Ideal Uses in the Garden

Growing and Caring for Your Golden Privet Tree

Complementary Golden Foliage Trees

Enhance Your Garden with the Golden Privet Tree

Contact us

Explore Garden Inspiration

golden privet tree

Podocarpus totara 'Aurea' (Golden Tōtara)

Acer platanoides 'Princeton Gold'

Did you find what you are looking for?

Features and Benefits of the Golden Privet Tree

Ideal Uses in the Garden

Growing and Caring for Your Golden Privet Tree

Complementary Golden Foliage Trees

Enhance Your Garden with the Golden Privet Tree

Contact us

Explore Garden Inspiration

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