Call us: 0800 843 752Free shipping for orders $150 or over
Gift Vouchers

privet laurel

If you're searching for information about privet laurel, you've likely got your eye on a versatile hedging superstar beloved by New Zealand gardeners. Renowned for its dense, glossy foliage and reliable growth, privet laurel is a common choice for both formal and informal hedges, windbreaks, and natural privacy screens. Its ability to thrive in a range of conditions makes it an excellent fit for Kiwi gardens, whether you're cultivating a small urban courtyard or shielding a rural property from prevailing winds.

Laurus 'Pride Of Provence' young trees at The Plant Company nursery.

Laurus nobilis Pride of Provence

Laurus nobilis 'Pride of Provence' is a variety of Laurel selected for its compact growth habit. This evergreen tree features lush, glossy, dark green leaves, which are aromatic and somewhat leathery in appearance. Flowers produced in spring are pale yellow-green and result in small and glossy, black berries as it grows to 2 m tall and the same width. Laurus nobilis 'Pride of Provence' is an excellent plant for trimming into a hedge, using as a screening plant, planting as a backdrop for smaller plants, maintaining in a container, or growing as a specimen. The leaves on this variety are the well-known Bay Leaves, and can be used fresh or dry in cooking to add flavour to dishes.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Shrubs
Height: 2.00 m
Spread: 2.00 m
Flowering time: Spring
Tolerances: Coastal, Hardy
Garden uses: Containers, Culinary, Hedging, Living areas, Parks, Pool areas, Specimen, Topiary
Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Coastal, Cottage, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Mediterranean, Modern, White
prunus-laurocerasus-3

Prunus laurocerasus

Prunus laurocerasus (Cherry Laurel) is a vigorous evergreen shrub admired for its lush glossy foliage and excellent screening qualities. This hardy plant produces dense green leaves year round, creating an attractive backdrop for gardens and landscapes throughout New Zealand. During spring, upright clusters of fragrant white flowers appear, followed by small dark berries that attract birds. Prunus laurocerasus is ideal for hedging, shelter planting, privacy screening, and large feature plantings where fast growth and reliable evergreen coverage are desired. Its adaptability and low maintenance nature make it a popular landscaping choice.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Trees
Height: 6.00 m
Spread: 5.00 m
Flowering time: Summer
Tolerances: Hardy
Garden uses: Hedging, Parks, Pool areas, Screening, Specimen, Topiary
Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Formal, Frontyard, Modern
Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica) standard trees bordering a driveway.
Prunus lusitanica

Prunus lusitanica, commonly known as the Portuguese Laurel, is a large shrub that is widely grown across the world. It features dark red stems that...

From$38.57
A Laurus nobilis 'Angustifolia' small specimen tree in a garden.
Laurus nobilis angustifolia

Laurus nobilis angustifolia is a variety of Laurel grown for its compact growth habit and elegant foliage. This evergreen tree features lush, dark...

From$430.15
ligustrum-rotundifolium-4
Ligustrum 'Rotundifolium'

Ligustrum 'Rotundifolium' (Japanese Privet) is a hardy evergreen shrub admired for its rounded glossy green leaves and dense compact growth habit...

From$24.77
Pittosporum tobira green foliage and elegant white flowers.
Pittosporum tobira (Australian Laurel)

Pittosporum tobira, commonly known as Japanese Pittosporum or mock orange, is a versatile, evergreen shrub prized for its glossy, green foliage and...

From$22.01
Quercus laurina specimen tree with lush, green foliage.
Quercus laurina

Quercus laurina is a magnificent evergreen oak native to Central America, admired for its stately form and year round greenery. Its glossy, lance...

From$136.04
Laurus nobilis foliage and flowers.
Laurus nobilis

Laurus nobilis, commonly known as Sweet Bay Tree or Bay Laurel, is a versatile evergreen tree prized for its aromatic leaves and classic form. It...

From$34.43
Laurus nobilis Pride of Provence

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Laurus, Ligustrum, Pittosporum Prunus and Quercus, or related Categories - Evergreen Shrubs, Deciduous Trees Evergreen Trees and Flowering Cherry Tree.

Search privet laurel

What Is Privet Laurel?

Privet laurel is a term often used to describe several different evergreen shrubs prized for their lush green leaves and robust, upright growth. In New Zealand, it's commonly associated with members of the Ligustrum genus, including Ligustrum vulgare (Common Privet) and Ligustrum Rotundifolium (Ligustrum japonicum). While not a true laurel, privet laurel’s hardy nature and adaptability make it a staple in landscape design. With careful pruning, these plants can form neat, crisp lines for a formal look or be left a little wild for a more relaxed, natural effect.

Planting and Caring for Privet Laurel

Privet laurel thrives in sunny to partly shaded positions and tolerates a wide range of soil types, provided there is reasonable drainage. It's relatively drought-tolerant once established but appreciates regular watering during dry periods, especially in the first couple of growing seasons. Feeding with a balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring encourages lush growth.

For a dense, healthy hedge, space your privet laurel plants about 60-90 centimetres apart. Regular pruning in late summer and early autumn will keep your hedges in tip-top shape, while more substantial trims may be needed if you want to drastically reduce size or rejuvenate overgrown specimens.

Uses for Privet Laurel in Your Garden

The versatility of privet laurel in the New Zealand garden is hard to beat. Whether you’re after a living fence for privacy, a windbreak, or simply a lush evergreen backdrop for your garden beds, privet laurel delivers. It pairs well with flowering climbers like Jasminum polyanthum (Pink Jasmine) for a splash of seasonal colour, or with aromatic evergreens like Laurus nobilis Pride of Provence to enhance sensory appeal.

Considering Alternatives

For those who want to explore options beyond privet laurel, it's worth noting relatives like Ligustrum vulgare (Common Privet) and Ligustrum Rotundifolium (Ligustrum japonicum) both offer similar hedging benefits, each with their own unique foliage characteristics. Or, if you're keen to add a North American twist to your garden, the showy Kalmia Pristine (Mountain Laurel) is a fantastic choice for a flowering evergreen shrub.

Create the Garden You Love

Privet laurel continues to be a favourite for those seeking resilience, versatility, and year-round greenery. Whether you’re shaping hedges or building layered plantings, its adaptability ensures it will thrive in a wide range of New Zealand gardens. For more great ideas, consider combining privet laurel with striking architectural shrubs or scented climbers, and know that you’re choosing a classic foundation for beautiful landscapes.


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.

From trusted favourites like Parthenocissus tricuspidata 'Veitchii' and Ficus benjamina variegata to fresh faces like Iris kaempferi, Hatiora salicornioides (Mistletoe Cactus), and Hebe 'Lavender Lace' — we’ve got you covered.
–The Plant Company

Explore Garden Inspiration

Sign up to receive a free $10 Voucher You won’t be bombarded with emails, just titbits of quality information from time to time Sign up
Free shipping on orders over $150!

Join our community of happy customers.

4.8

445 Google reviews