Birch Leaf Spirea vs Wild Privet - TreeTime.ca

Birch Leaf Spirea vs Wild Privet

Spiraea betulifolia

Ligustrum vulgare

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

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Wild Privet

Birch Leaf Meadowsweet is a small, rounded shrub, reaching 3 to 4 feet high.

In the early summer, white flowers emerge with dark green foliage. Come fall, birch-like leaves turn a kaleidoscope of red, orange, and purple adding seasonal interest.

Native to Japan and Eastern Asia, this dwarf shrub attracts butterflies and is an excellent option for the front row of a shrub border.

Wild Privet is a fast growing ornamental shrub that is well suited for forming hedges and privacy screens. It will retain its leaves in warmer climates but drops them in colder areas. They have small white flowers, though the smell is often considered unpleasant. While the berries are inedible, they are a good food source for many bird species.

It is recommended to prune Wild Privet immediately after flowering, as it can readily self seed. It is deer and rabbit tolerant. It can grow in dry areas, on slopes, and withstand the wind making it well suited for many growing conditions.

Birch Leaf Spirea Quick Facts

Wild Privet Quick Facts

Zone: 4a
Zone: 5a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Berries: black
Flowers: white
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium




Toxicity: If ingested, all parts of this plant will cause severe discomfort. Toxic to dogs, cats, and horses
Other Names: birch leaf meadowsweet, shiny leaf spirea, white spirea
Other Names: common privet, european privet