Laurustinus

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; tolerates deeper shade but flowers less freely.

Water

Water regularly while establishing. Established shrubs tolerate some drought, but benefit from deep watering during prolonged dry spells.

Soil

Well-drained soil, including clay that does not remain waterlogged; tolerates acidic, neutral and alkaline conditions.

Height

8-12 ft (2.4-3.7 m)

Spread

8-12 ft (2.4-3.7 m)

Flowers

Pink buds open to white flower clusters from late autumn or winter into spring; timing varies with climate.

Foliage

Leathery, oval, dark green leaves held in opposite pairs, forming a dense evergreen canopy.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

2. After 1 year

   3 ft (1 m)

3. After 2 years

   5 ft (1.5 m)

4. After 3 years

   7 ft (2 m)

5. After 5 years

   10 ft (3.1 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Mildly toxic: may upset a stomach

Invasive in

Australia

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water deeply during the first growing season, allowing the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the stems.
• In spring, add compost; use a general-purpose fertiliser only if growth is weak or the soil is poor.
• Choose a sheltered position away from cold, drying winds near the colder end of its range.
• During prolonged summer drought, soak the root area rather than watering lightly each day.

Pruning. Prune just after flowering, shortening overlong shoots and removing dead or damaged wood. Trim hedges at the same time; later clipping removes developing flower buds, while pruning flowered shoots reduces the fruit display.

Spring

After flowering, prune lightly to shape and remove frost-damaged shoots once new growth shows what is alive.

Spring

Refresh mulch and add compost around established shrubs.

Late spring

Check leaves for beetle larvae and aphids; remove small infestations before damage spreads.

Summer

Water new plants during dry weather and give established shrubs a deep soak during prolonged drought.

Late summer

Take semi-ripe cuttings from healthy, non-flowering shoots.

Autumn

Plant in mild areas while the soil is warm; in colder locations, wait until spring.

Winter

Protect container roots during hard freezes and avoid pruning off the developing flowers.

• Use as an evergreen boundary hedge where winter flowers are more important than a tightly clipped outline.
• Plant behind hellebores, cyclamen and spring bulbs to provide a dark, permanent backdrop.
• Place near a path or entrance where the winter buds and flowers can be seen closely.
• Combine with rosemary and other Mediterranean shrubs in a sheltered, well-drained border.
• Use as a loose screen around a seating area, allowing enough room for its mature width.

Garden styles it suits: Mediterranean, Winter interest, Woodland, Traditional, Coastal and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Hellebores, Hardy cyclamen, Snowdrops, Bergenias, Mexican orange blossom and Rosemary.

Wildlife: Flowers provide pollen and nectar for insects active during mild winter and early spring weather. Birds eat the fruits and use dense shrubs for shelter and nesting.

• Viburnum beetle can skeletonise leaves, particularly in the UK. Inspect in spring, hand-pick larvae on small shrubs and remove heavily infested shoots carrying eggs during winter.
• Aphids can distort soft new growth. Wash them off with water and encourage ladybirds and other predators; use insecticidal soap only where necessary.
• Leaf spots are more likely in damp, crowded conditions. Remove fallen infected leaves, improve air circulation and water at soil level.
• Waterlogged soil can cause root rot and dieback. Improve drainage or replant in a better-drained position rather than continuing to water a declining shrub.

Not generally considered toxic to cats, dogs or horses. The fruits are not food for people or pets; eating them may cause stomach upset, particularly in quantity. Serious poisoning is not generally associated with this shrub.

Where it spreads. Naturalised and regarded as an environmental weed in parts of southern Australia, including Victoria and South Australia, where birds spread its seeds into bushland. Check local weed guidance before planting near native vegetation.

• Sweet viburnum (Viburnum odoratissimum)

  Usually has larger, glossier leaves and more open, often pyramidal clusters of fragrant white flowers in spring rather than the compact winter flower heads of laurustinus.

• Leatherleaf viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum)

  Has much longer, strongly wrinkled leaves with densely hairy undersides, and broad creamy flower clusters in spring.

• Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

  Has alternate rather than opposite leaves, usually with finely toothed margins, and upright spikes of white flowers rather than rounded clusters.

Laurustinus combines the Latin laurus, meaning laurel, with tinus, an ancient name for this shrub, referring to its laurel-like evergreen leaves.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer to early autumn and root them in a free-draining medium under humid conditions. Seed is possible but germination can be slow and uneven; seedlings may differ from named cultivars.

Accepted botanical name

Viburnum tinus

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon-Syria, Libya and Morocco.

Measured

Soil pH 5.5 to 6.5. Average height 240 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.