This month, I thought I’d feature one of my favourite garden shrubs, which as well as brightening up your garden over the winter months is great for using in flower arrangements. It’s called Viburnum tinus and its common name is Laurustinus viburnum. From around about now until the spring, you’ll find the plant covered in tiny white or pale pink flowers.
White varieties include Viburnum tinus ‘French White’, Viburnum tinus ‘Gwenllian’ and Viburnum tinus ‘Eve Price’, with pink varieties including Viburnum tinus ‘Pink Prelude’. The whole flower heads themselves are generally flat in shape, with the individual blooms being star-shaped. If you’re looking for a variegated variety, there is one called Viburnum tinus 'Variegatum', which is pale pink in bud and white in flower.
With small evergreen leaves, the plant will grow anywhere in your garden. But they prefer moderately fertile, humus-rich and well-drained soil.
There’s no need to prune Viburnum tinus but if you want to, you can prune older plants after they’ve flowered. And if you wish to propagate them, take cuttings in the summer.
After flowering, the shrub bears jet black berries which make a lovely interesting addition to flower arrangements. They tend to have a metallic hue and are very long lasting.
So, if you’re looking for a new flowering shrub to add to your garden, why not consider a Viburnum tinus?
(Images : Flickr/Rafael Valls, Flickr/wallygrom, Flickr/ekenitr, Flickr/lilli2de, Flickr/Manuel M. Ramos)
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