# Laurustinus viburnum (*Viburnum tinus*)

Laurustinus viburnum is a lovely evergreen shrub with shiny leaves and beautiful white flowers. It can grow in gardens and parks, making them look bright and cheerful all year round.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Urban areas

![Laurustinus viburnum](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/11569122/medium.jpg)

Photo: Ettore Balocchi, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/11569122)

## Appearance

The Laurustinus viburnum is a dense, evergreen shrub with dark green, oval leaves that provide year-round interest. It features clusters of small, fragrant white or pale pink flowers that emerge from distinctive pink buds, later developing into shiny metallic blue-black berries.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Dipsacales
- **Family:** Viburnaceae
- **Genus:** Viburnum

## Interesting facts

- It's tough enough to grow even in salty air near the ocean!
- Its berries change from shiny red to a cool metallic blue-black color!
- Laurustinus flowers sometimes appear before all the leaves have even fully unfurled!
- This plant was popular in ancient Roman gardens for its beauty and hardiness.

## Special abilities

- **Winter Wonder:** Laurustinus viburnum can bloom from late autumn into spring, providing crucial nectar for early insects when other plants are dormant.
- **Evergreen Resilience:** It has thick, leathery evergreen leaves that help it withstand cold temperatures and maintain lush foliage all year.
- **Berry Banquet:** This plant produces vibrant blue-black berries in winter, offering a vital food source for birds during lean months.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 200-400 cm
- **Spread:** 200-400 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late Autumn to Spring
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** Blackbird (*Turdus merula*) — eats its mature blue-black berries
- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar from its flowers
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — visits its flowers for nectar

## Traits

- [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before touching plants, as some can be prickly or have bugs.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Laurustinus viburnum?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Laurustinus viburnum?

200-400 cm

### How wide does Laurustinus viburnum spread?

200-400 cm

### How big are the flowers on Laurustinus viburnum?

0.5-1 cm

### When does Laurustinus viburnum bloom?

Late Autumn to Spring

### Is Laurustinus viburnum edible?

No

### Is Laurustinus viburnum toxic?

Mild

### What is Laurustinus viburnum's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [El Capricho Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/el-capricho-gardens) — Central Spain, ES · Park
- [Plymouth Pillars Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/plymouth-pillars-park) — Washington, US · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Laurustinus viburnum: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/laurustinus-viburnum)