Laurustinus Viburnum tinus
Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus) is an evergreen perennial shrub in the Viburnaceae family, native to Woods and maquis of the Mediterranean basin. It grows 2–4 m (6.6–13 ft) tall and 2–3 m (6.6–10 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and low water, and is hardy to about -15 °C (5 °F). Space plants about 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart.
Plan Laurustinus in your garden →
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Laurustinus at a glance
| Type | Perennial shrub, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Viburnaceae |
| Mature height | 2–4 m (6.6–13 ft) |
| Mature spread | 2–3 m (6.6–10 ft) |
| Spacing | 1.5 m (4.9 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 3 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5.5–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About -15 °C (5 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 7) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | from about November for 13–21 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Woods and maquis of the Mediterranean basin |
| Common in gardens of | 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇫🇷 France, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇦🇺 Australia |
Is Laurustinus toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: not well documented
- Dogs: not well documented
- Parts: berries
The metallic blue berries cause vomiting if eaten in quantity.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Laurustinus
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and low water.
Questions about Laurustinus
- How far apart should I plant Laurustinus?
- About 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 2–3 m (6.6–10 ft).
- Does Laurustinus need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 3 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Laurustinus need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Laurustinus?
- It tolerates about -15 °C (5 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 7.
- When does Laurustinus flower?
- From about November for 13–21 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Laurustinus poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not well documented; for dogs not well documented; for people mildly toxic. The metallic blue berries cause vomiting if eaten in quantity.
- What grows well with Laurustinus?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Laurustinus. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- RHS Find a Plant (plant profiles and growing guides), Royal Horticultural Society
- Euro+Med PlantBase, Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin
Notes and assumptions
- A dense evergreen with pink buds opening to flat heads of white flowers through winter and early spring, then metallic blue berries. Grows in shade, drought and sea wind: a classic hedge from Roman gardens to modern towns.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
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- American highbush cranberry Viburnum trilobum
- Japanese snowball (doublefile viburnum) Viburnum plicatum
- Fragrant viburnum (Farrer’s viburnum) Viburnum farreri
- Arrowwood viburnum Viburnum dentatum
- Bigleaf hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla
- Rhododendron Rhododendron
- Boxwood Buxus sempervirens