Phillyrea angustifolia (Narrow-leafed Mock Privet)

An exceedingly useful evergreen shrub from the Mediterranean that has been grown in this country since before 1597. It is part of the Oleaceae family, which includes both privets and olives. The slender, lanceolate leaves emerge bronze in the spring, maturing to a matt green and can be as much as 6cms in length. The individual flowers are small, greeny white and held in little clusters, they appear in May and June and have a sweet fragrance followed by small black berries.

Left to grow unclipped, the shrub could reach 3m in both height and width, but it clips beautifully and is perfect for topiary as a superb alternative to box. Coming as it does from the Mediterranean, it thrives in full sun on a free draining soil. It is hardy, and wind resistant and is a great coastal plant. Once established it will need little in the way of water but would benefit from an occasional drench during prolonged hot, dry summers.