You’ve never seen a shrub like this before.
Privet is infamous forgrowing like a weed.
‘Sunshine’ privet can be used as a hedge and is visually appealing thanks to its bright yellow foliage.
Credit: Courtesy of the Southern Living Plant Collection
This sterile, non-invasive cultivar will not re-seed into the landscape."
Privet is ideal for growing as a hedge and is relatively easy to care for.
Whendesigning your landscape, give these plants ample spacing depending on their use.
Plant privets three to four feet apart for shrubs and three feet apart for hedges.
Plant four to six feet apart for a border or mass landscaping.
Light
Like its name, this particular plant thrives in the sunshine.
double-check you plant it in a spot where it gets at least six hours of sun per day.
Soil
The golden hedge likes moist, well-draining soil.
We suggest adding one to two inches of mulch around the base of the plant to ensure moisture.
When doing so, avoid the area closest to the stem.
After establishing the plant, it is drought and heat tolerant.
However, see to it to water enough to keep its surrounding soil moist.
Avoid overwatering, as its roots do not like soggy soil.
Temperature and Humidity
This plant thrives in warm, moist environments with temperatures around 68F to 85F.
Humidity is not as crucial to privet as other conditions.
Fertilizer
We recommend fertilizing twice a year in the spring and fall.
Do not fertilize plants when the temperatures are above 85F because it leads to poor water absorption.
Types of Privet
‘Sunshine’ privet has several varieties and species with attractive foliage.
Some are less aggressively invasive than others and have distinctive characteristics.
Too much pruning will slow the plant’s growth and can cause damage.
Propagating ‘Sunshine’ Privet
Privets quickly propagate from softwood cuttings.
Select branches before they harden between May and July for best results.
Water privets the day before selecting cuttings to protect the roots.
Warmer regions willrequire less maintenancethan areas that experience fluctuating temperatures.
Depending on your climate, privets might benefit from burlap or cloth covering overnight to avoid cold damage.
Remove the covering in the mornings to allow sun exposure.
Avoid overwatering plants to prevent rot.
Avoid wet leaves and ensure plants get enough daily sun exposure.
Depending on your environmental conditions, privets need more or less humidity.
Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or dilute it with water if the plants are still experiencing leaf browning.
Leaves Turning Yellow
Leaf burn can also turn foliage yellow from inefficient watering.
If poor drainage is not an issue, soil nutrient imbalance is likely the cause.
Test the soil for a pH between 6.0 and 8.0 and enrich it with magnesium and sulfur.
Adding citrus, coffee, or vegetables is also known to help improve soil content.
