Laurustine Viburnum tinus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- vih-BUR-num TIN-us
- Description
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Laurustine is a viburnum native to the Mediterranean areas of Europe and Africa and tolerates coastal conditions and is slightly salt-tolerant and drought tolerant. Blooms winter-spring with clusters of pink buds opening to white. The lustrous, dark-green leaves are nice year-round. Fruit set requires another viburnum type to be planted nearby. Use this shrub as a specimen or hedge in full sun to partial shade.
Quick ID
- Evergreen shrub with winter flowers in terminal cymes
- Opposite, ovate leaves have hair tufts on the underside
- Pink-budded flowers open to white
- Metallic blue drupes mature to black
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Pond and Stream Coastal Shade Garden Woodland Backyard Garden Walk
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bewley's Variegated'
- 'Gwenllian'
- 'Lisa Rosa'
Hardy, flowers are beautiful shades of pink - 'Spring Bouquet'
- 'Variegatum'
- 'Bewley's Variegated'
- 'Bewley's Variegated', 'Gwenllian', 'Lisa Rosa', 'Spring Bouquet', 'Variegatum'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bewley's Variegated'
- 'Gwenllian'
- 'Lisa Rosa'
Hardy, flowers are beautiful shades of pink - 'Spring Bouquet'
- 'Variegatum'
- 'Bewley's Variegated'
- 'Bewley's Variegated', 'Gwenllian', 'Lisa Rosa', 'Spring Bouquet', 'Variegatum'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Viburnum
- Species:
- tinus
- Family:
- Viburnaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mediterranean area of Europe and North Africa
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies, birds, and bees
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is mildly resistant to damage by deer; drought
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is an ovoid, berry-like, one-seeded drupe, blue maturing to purplish-black, 0.4 in.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Pink buds open to 2 to 4 in. clusters of waxy flattened white flowers in late winter to early spring. The inflorescence is a convex terminal cyme.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Variegated
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves opposite, simple, narrowly ovate to oblong, entire, lustrous dark green above and paler with axillary hair tufts beneath; petiole usually pubescent.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Salt
