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Shrubs

Phillyrea angustifolia f. rosmarinifolia

rosemary-leaved mock privet

A dense and compact evergreen shrub to 1.5m tall, with narrowly linear, dark green leaves. In early summer it produces small, creamy-white flowers, which although insignificant are pleasantly fragrant. A good plant for hedging or topiary

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Oleaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Phillyrea are evergreen shrubs with simple, opposite, leathery leaves and small, often fragrant white flowers, followed by purple to black berries
Name status: Correct
Plant range: N Africa & S Europe

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade, with shelter from cold, drying winds

Propagation

Propagate by semi-ripe cuttings in summer or layering in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Low Maintenance
Hedging and screens

Pruning

See pruning group 1 or pruning group 8

Pests

May be susceptible to Phillyrea whitefly

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus in gardens where it is present but insufficient data to determine degree of susceptibility

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