Privet is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 7 through 13 and shrugs off deer. Its early summer flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies.
Zones
7-13
pH Range
5.9-7.7
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
---
Score Privet on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether privet actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score privet against your land's real conditions.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
No card required · your full report in seconds
What Privet is
Privet grows as a perennial and reaches around 15 feet at maturity. It blooms white in early summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Privet
Privet grows in USDA zones 7 through 13. Privet does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.9 to 7.7. It needs about 300 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
7-13
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.9 - 7.7
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
Data pending
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
-3°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
15 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
300+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
0+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set privet in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Privet prefers pH 5.9 to 7.7 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. Match watering to the plant's drainage preference and your local rainfall.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — privet is toxic to dogs and cats and horses (moderate severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Privet offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Privet thrives
Privet is hardy across USDA zones 7 through 13. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 7–13·Where Privet growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Privet can grow in these states:
See if Privet will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether privet actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Privet in my zone?
Privet grows in USDA hardiness zones 7 through 13 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Privet?
Set privet out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Privet need?
Privet needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Privet need?
Privet prefers soil pH 5.9 to 7.7 (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Privet attract pollinators?
Yes — privet's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Privet safe for pets?
Privet is toxic to pets (dogs,cats,horses) with moderate severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency.