Viburnum tinus

Common name: Laurustinus

Description: Viburnum tinus is an indispensable evergreen shrub for year-round interest, producing flat-headed clusters of pink-budded white flowers continuously from late autumn right through to spring, filling the garden with gentle fragrance during the coldest months. These are followed in summer by attractive small, metallic blue-black berries. With its dense, bushy, naturally rounded habit and glossy dark green foliage, it makes an excellent screen, hedge, or large specimen. One of the most versatile and reliable evergreen shrubs for UK gardens.

Other benefits: winter-to-spring flowering, ornamental berries, excellent hedging and screening, fragrant

Wildlife attraction: bees and early pollinators; birds eat the berries, including thrushes and blackbirds

Height & spread (approx.) at 10 years: 3m x 2.5m

Position: full sun to full shade

Soil pH: neutral to slightly alkaline; adaptable

Moisture: moist but well-drained; drought tolerant once established

Winter hardiness: cold hardy to -15°C