Privet is not only popular as a single shrub or hedge plant because of its dense foliage. The flowers are also very attractive and give off a very sweet scent. You will be swarmed by bumblebees, butterflies and other insects. Worth knowing about the flower of the privet.
Privet flowers have a strong scent
Privet bears white flowers
- white flowers
- panicle shape
- up to 6 cm long
- strongly scented
- Flowering time June to July
The privet produces white flowers. They form stalks that look like small versions of lilac flowers. The inflorescences are up to 6 cm long.
Privet is monoecious, which means that male and female flowers grow on one shrub. They hardly differ from each other on the outside.
The scent of the privet flower is particularly strong in the evening. If you are sensitive to scents, you should not plant the privet directly in front of a bedroom window.
The heyday of the privet
The heyday of the privet starts in June and lasts until July.
If you want to enjoy the flowering of the privet, postpone the pruning until after. But keep in mind that you can only cut individual shoots during the breeding season.
Privet flower important for insects
The privet is a native plant and therefore an important food source for the local insects. They take over the pollination of the flower, so that later the berry-like fruits grow on the bush.
The flower of the privet is particularly popular with bumblebees, but also with bees, butterflies and other insects. This also distinguishes the privet from the cherry laurel, whose blossoms are not accepted by native insects.
tips
If the flower is pollinated, it produces pea-sized, black fruits in autumn. They are mildly toxic and can cause nausea and intestinal problems if consumed.