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Glite Dictionary
California privet

California privet

8.6
A partly evergreen shrub often used for hedges that stays green most of the year but has smelly flowers
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : aligustre de California
  • They planted California privet along the driveway for privacy and greenery.

Examples

  • The California privet hedge in our garden stays green all year round.

  • Despite its malodorous flowers, California privet is a popular choice for suburban hedges.

  • The garden is filled with California privet.

  • Many homeowners plant California privets for privacy.

  • The California privet hedge in our garden stays green all year round.

  • Despite its malodorous flowers, California privet is a popular choice for suburban hedges.

  • They planted California privet along the driveway for privacy and greenery.

Synonyms

privet
vsCalifornia privet
2 8.1

A dense bush with small white flowers and black berries often used as a hedge

is a specific semi-evergreen shrub native to Japan rather than the general genus
Ligustrum ovalifolium
vsCalifornia privet
  • Specialized
9.9

A bush that stays green for most of the year and has strong-smelling summer flowers

is described as staying green longer than common relatives rather than year round

Surface Forms

California privet singular
California privets plural

Morphology

California + privet

The noun phrase combines the place-name 'California' with the plant 'privet', so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a type or variety of privet associated with California. This place+noun naming pattern is compositional and cross-linguistically common, making the meaning readily derivable for B1 learners.

Etymology

California privet gets its name by joining privet, a common hedge shrub, with California, where gardeners planted it a lot because it stays green longer than other privets. So the name helps you remember a tidy, 'green' hedge plant, even though its flowers can smell bad.