Description
Phillyrea – Mock Privet –
There are 2 to 4 species of evergreen shrub or small trees in the Oleaceae family, in this genus. They occur in woodland and rocky places from the Mediterranean to Southwestern Asia. Grown for their habit and foliage, they have opposite, ovate to lanceolate, sometimes with toothed edges, yellow green to dark green leaves. The very small, but fragrant, 4 lobed, salverform greenish white flowers are held in axillary cymes, followed by spherical or ovoid, blue black fruits. Grow in a shrub border or as specimen plants. Where marginally hardy, grow against a sheltered wall.
Grow in fertile, well drained soil, ideally in full sun, with shelter from cold, dry winds. Tolerates partial shade. It withstands frequent trimming.
Prone to whiteflies.
P. latifolia ‘Spinosa’ – This dense, rounded shrub or small tree from the Mediterranean and Southwestern Asia grows 28-30′ feet tall and wide. It produces oval, very distinct, toothed edged, glossy, dark green leaves, to 2 ½” long. In late spring and early summer it bears inconspicuous, fragrant, greenish white flowers held in cymes, ½” across, followed by spherical blue black fruit, 1/4″ across.
Zones 7-9
