Privet vs. Ficus for a Formal Hedge

For a clipped, formal hedge, privet and ficus are the two classic answers. They diverge on height, speed, and price.

Height ceiling

Privet tops out around 10–15 feet — perfect for eye-level privacy and garden structure. Ficus keeps going to 25–30, which is why second-story screening is almost always a ficus job.

Speed and maintenance

Ficus grows roughly twice as fast, which cuts both ways: faster privacy, more frequent shearing. Privet holds a crisp line longer between trims.

Price

Privet is our least expensive species at every size — a meaningful gap on long runs. If 8–10 feet of privacy is enough, privet usually wins on value; if you need 12+ feet or maximum speed, pay the ficus premium.