Ligustrum Ovalifolium Lemon and Lime Garden Privet

Ligustrum ovalifolium Lemon and Lime - Garden Privet Lemon and Lime

Ligustrum ovalifolium Lemon and Lime is a vibrant, evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub, grown primarily for its luminous variegated foliage and its versatility as a hedging plant. Commonly known as Garden Privet Lemon and Lime, this compact, upright shrub offers year-round structure and colour, making it an excellent choice for low-maintenance borders, evergreen screening, or formal hedging. A more refined alternative to traditional golden privet, this cultivar brings a fresher, more nuanced take on variegation with its zingy blend of lemon-yellow and lime-green hues.

Ligustrum Lemon and Lime features a dense, upright to arching habit and produces an abundance of small, ovate, glossy leaves. The foliage is the main attraction—each leaf displays a cheerful mix of pale golden yellow and bright lime green, sometimes edged with soft cream. This striking colour palette is more subtle and finely textured than that of the bolder Ligustrum ovalifolium 'Aureum', which has larger, more strongly variegated leaves. Lemon and Lime offers a fresher, more delicate effect that works particularly well in modern planting schemes or to lift darker evergreen planting.

In early summer, panicles of small, creamy-white flowers appear at the tips of the branches. These lightly scented blooms are popular with pollinators and may be followed in late summer or autumn by small, dark blue-black berries, which add further ornamental value and provide food for birds. Lemon and Lime holds an RHS Perfect for Pollinators badge!

Ligustrum Ovalifolium as a genes is native to Japan and Korea, where it grows as a hardy, adaptable shrub in a variety of habitats. It was introduced to Europe in the late 19th century and quickly became a staple of British gardens, particularly valued for its usefulness as a hedging plant. Its fast growth, ease of clipping, and tolerance of urban conditions helped it gain popularity across the UK. The cultivar ‘Lemon and Lime’ is a more recent ornamental selection, developed for its vibrant variegated foliage and slightly more compact, refined form compared to traditional golden privet varieties.

Height and Width of Ligustrum ovalifolium Lemon and Lime:
With an eventual height of 2 to 2.5 metres and a spread of 1.5 metre, Ligustrum Lemon and Lime has a moderate growth rate, typically achieving around 20–30 cm per year under average growing conditions. This makes it slightly slower-growing than the plain green form of Ligustrum such as Common Privet, but still fast enough to establish an effective hedge within a few seasons. With regular pruning and good care (sunlight, moisture, and feeding), it can form a dense, attractive screen or low hedge relatively quickly — especially useful in urban or smaller garden settings where a more compact plant is preferable.

How hardy is Hardiness Ligustrum ovalifolium Lemon and Lime?
Ligustrum Lemon and Lime is hardy throughout most of the UK, withstanding temperatures down to around -10°C once established. It may shed some leaves in very cold winters, particularly in exposed locations, but generally retains a good portion of its foliage year-round, especially in sheltered or urban settings.

Uses in Garden and Landscape
Widely used for hedging, Ligustrum Lemon and Lime is also well suited to mixed shrub borders or as a stand-alone specimen. Its vibrant foliage adds contrast and brightness to evergreen compositions, and its neat form responds well to clipping. Ideal for topiary shapes, formal lines, or informal boundaries, it works equally well in urban, cottage, or contemporary garden settings.

Ligustrum Lemon and Lime is well suited to coastal areas. It is salt-tolerant, able to withstand salt-laden winds common in seaside environments. It has good wind-resistance, with dense foliage and flexible branches that hold up well in exposed sites. It is reliable in poor or sandy soils, provided drainage is good. In other words, Garden Privet Lemon and Lime is an excellent choice for coastal hedging or boundary planting. Just ensure it's not planted in heavy, waterlogged soils and give it a little extra water while establishing.

Care Tips
Plant in full sun to partial shade for best leaf colour—too much shade may dull the variegation. Ligustrum Lemon and Lime prefers well-drained, fertile soil and benefits from regular trimming, particularly if used for hedging. Prune in late spring or summer to maintain shape and density. Water well during dry spells in its first season, and mulch annually to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.

Compared to Ligustrum ovalifolium 'Aureum', Lemon and Lime offers a subtler, more refined colour scheme and a slightly more compact habit, making it especially valuable for smaller gardens or where a less brassy golden tone is preferred