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Swamp Privet

Forestiera acuminata

Regular price $9499
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Plant Highlights

Swamp Privet highlights at a glance!

  • Brand
    Nature Hills' Choice
  • Botanical Name
    Forestiera acuminata
  • Growing Zones
    6, 7, 8, 9
  • Mature Height
    15 - 25 Feet
  • Mature Spread
    15 - 20 Feet
  • Sun Exposure
    Full Sun, Partial Shade
  • Moisture
    High
  • Soil
    Tolerates Wet Soils
  • Growth Rate
    Medium
  • Fall Color
    Yellow
  • Pollinator Friendly
    Yes
  • Pollinator Required
    Yes
  • Pruning Time
    After Flowering
  • Bloom Period
    Early Spring, Late Spring
  • Fragrant
    Yes


Highly adaptable shrubs or trees, the Swamp Privet (Forestiera acuminata) is a hardy native wetland plant with an open and airy form! Found growing throughout the southeastern and central U.S., The yellow sprays of flowers, the gray branches fill out with pointed yellow-green toothy foliage for the entire growing season!

The spring flowers appear on old wood and male flowers and female flowers appear on separate plants. If pollinated by the plethora of bees and butterflies that love these blooms, the female plants form bird-friendly purple drupes for the late summer months and contrast with the yellow fall color.

The leaves of these plants have a spicy aroma when crushed and are similar to Spicebush. However, while called a Privet, Swamp Privet are not true Privet shrubs (Ligustrum). When grown in their natural form, these natives can form polite thickets. When pruned into more tree-form specimens, the multi-branched trees can grow 15-25 feet tall and about 15-20 feet wide.

Planting and Application:

Growing into naturalized thickets along riparian areas and in boggier areas of the landscape. Plant Swamp Privet in the Rain Garden and along your ponds, brooks, and water features, anywhere there is higher moisture soils available.

Equally adaptable to partial shade, Swamp Privet are wonderful understory shrubs, happily hanging out under the canopy of larger trees. Handling full sun as well, these wonderful native plants handle a wide range of conditions, while feeding and sheltering songbirds and wildlife - but there is little worry that Deer will browse on your Swamp Privet stand.

  • Sprays of Yellow Blooms
  • Yellow-Green Leaves & Yellow Fall Color
  • Pollinator Friendly Blooms
  • Loves High Moisture Environments & Rain Gardens
  • Purple Drupes In Summer Feed Water Foul, Songbirds & Ducks
  • Naturalizing, Understory Tree or Shrub, Thickets & Wetland Areas

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Plant Swamp Privet in full sun or partial shade locations and provide a well-drained soil location with higher moisture availability. In drier conditions in the garden, plant this hardy native in an enriched location that is mulched with 3-4 inches of arborist bark chips. Eastern Swamp Privet shrubs bloom on old wood, so prune only after flowering. For maintaining large naturalized thickets, try renewal pruning instead and only remove the oldest, fattest stems, leaving behind younger more vigorous branching.

  • Full Sun & Partial Shade
  • Well-Drained Soil Locations
  • Average to Higher Moisture Locations
  • Prune After Flowering
  • Deer Seldom Bother These Hardy Natives!

Native Eastern Swamp Privet shrubs or trees are wonderful additions to boost your landscapes biodiversity and increase native plant presence in your area! Now available at Nature Hills Nursery!

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