mock privet

plant

Also known as: Phillyrea

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

Related Topics:: Oleaceae; Phillyrea decora

See all related content

mock privet, any shrub or small tree of the genus Phillyrea in the olive family, Oleaceae. The four species of mock privet, native to the Mediterranean area, sometimes are grown as ornamentals for their handsome, glossy, evergreen leaves. P. decora reaches 3 m (10 feet) and has shining leaves and clusters of small, white flowers. The small, bright red, one-seeded fruits turn purple-black as they mature. P. latifolia reaches 10 m, and P. angustifolia, about 5 m.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.