Viburnum Tinus or Laurustinus is a popular evergreen shrub, known for its ability to attract bees, butterflies and birds. It has nectar-rich flowers full of pollen, providing the perfect habitat for honey bees that flock to it in search of sweet nectar. But not just bees benefit from Viburnum Tinus – birds also find refuge in its thick branches and eat the seeds produced by its flowers.
In this post, we will explore why viburnum tinus is such an attractive plant to bees and other wildlife. By understanding what viburnum tinus has to offer, you can better appreciate how important it is for creating a garden that attracts pollinators like bees.
What Is Viburnum Tinus
Boasting beautiful blooms, Viburnum tinus is a Mediterranean native and part of the Adoxaceae family. This evergreen shrub can reach heights of 2-7 meters and be as wide as 3 meters with a dense round crown and produces small white flowers or light pink flowers with buds being reddish-pink in dense 5-10 cm cymes during winter months. The leaves are ovate to elliptic in shape with fine hairs on the underside.
The fragrant flowers are hermaphrodite, with five stamens and a single circle. Insects aid in their pollination, resulting in dark blue-black drupes 5–7 mm long as the fruit. Viburnum tinus is an incredibly versatile addition to gardens, requiring little maintenance and thrive in different conditions. It’s perfect for hedging, screens, borders or simply planted as a specimen shrub due to its hardy nature. With viburnum tinus being both aesthetically pleasing and resilient it makes for an excellent evergreen choice for many garden projects.
Growing Viburnum Tinus
Growing Viburnum Tinus is relatively easy and with the right care, they make a beautiful addition to any garden.
This popular bee-friendly shrub can be grown in full sun and partial shade areas. It does best in moist but well-drained, moderately fertile soil, and has an average rate of growth. From December to April viburnum tinus produces fragrant white flowers followed by black berries later in the year. This hardy shrub requires minimal maintenance and is a great choice for adding texture and colour to any garden.
To achieve maximum growth potential, it’s important to provide your plant with proper soil conditions. Viburnums need well-drained soil that contains plenty of organic matter such as homemade compost or well-rotted manure. Once planted, you should water them regularly for the first year or two – especially during dry periods.
When it comes to feeding, viburnums usually require little or no fertilization. However, applying a mulch layer of organic matter – such as homemade compost or well-rotted manure – can help your Viburnum Tinus flourish in the garden. Make sure to leave a mulch-free circle immediately around the base of the plant to prevent rotting.
Finally, pruning is sometimes necessary if your Viburnum Tinus outgrows its space. If so, trim back shoots after flowering has finished and remove any dead or diseased stems throughout the year. With regular pruning and care, you should have a lush and healthy viburnum that provides beautiful flowers all year round!
Viburnum Tinus Hedging
Viburnum tinus ‘Eve Price’ is an excellent choice for hedging. It produces a dense and attractive foliage that provides privacy and shelter all year round. This evergreen plant makes it easy to create the perfect hedge shape and will remain green throughout the winter months. The flowers bloom in late winter adding colour to your garden whilst its dark purple berries provide much-needed sustenance for wildlife during the colder months. Hedges made from Viburnum tinus are also useful as a windbreak or a privacy screen, which can help reduce noise pollution from traffic or other unwanted sources.
Plants To Grow with Viburnum Tinus
Viburnum tinus companion plants can help add a splash of colour and texture to any garden. Black-eyed Susan is a cheerful flower with yellow petals surrounding a dark centre and has a long bloom period. Alliums attract pollinators into the garden and come in many shapes and sizes with blooms ranging from white to deep purple. Bumblebees love Lavender, it adds fragrance as well as visual interest with its layers of fragrant blooms and green foliage; it also grows well in containers too! Lastly, Hellebore is another bee favourite that blooms in late winter and early spring. With its cup-shaped flowers, it is a great companion to your Viburnum tinus.
Where To Buy Viburnum Tinus
If you’re looking to add one of these beautiful shrubs to your garden, then look no further than Crocus.co.uk – the UK’s leading retailer of plants, seeds and bulbs. They stock a wide selection of Viburnum Tinus, in various sizes and shades.
Best Viburnum Tinus Varieties For Bees
Viburnum Tinus Laurustinus – The White Flowering laurustinus is a versatile and reliable plant, making it an ideal addition to any partially shaded area. From December until April, this magnificent shrub proudly displays its dazzling white blossoms that attract pollinators of all kinds. Throughout the remainder of the year it stands as a brilliant backdrop for more ornamental plants due to its dense dark green foliage – not forgetting those beautiful blue-black fruits!
Lisarose – This impressive evergreen shrub is a must-have for any garden, adding an eye-catching display of red buds and soft pink and white flowers throughout the year. It’s low maintenance even in shady spots, making it great for borders or large pots – plus its informal flowering hedge can bring added texture to your outdoor space!
French White – With its striking rosy-red buds blooming into beautiful white flowers from December to April, this dependable evergreen shrub is a delightful sight in any garden. Not only does it grow faster than other varieties and boast large leaves, but it also has dark blue-black fruit as a bonus! Perfect for sunny or partial shade spots, this abundant plant enjoys flourishing with shiny green foliage providing a stunning backdrop against which ornamental plants can spruce up your landscape.
Eve Price – Is sure to be an eye-catching addition to any garden with its beautiful carmine buds that brighten up wintertime, opening into a stunning pinkish-white bouquet of blossoms each year from December until April. It thrives in both sunny and shady areas for your convenience, providing a dark green evergreen backdrop throughout the seasons – perfect for highlighting feature plants or creating whimsical landscapes!
Adding Viburnum Tinus to your garden is an excellent way to attract bees and create a beautiful, vibrant landscape. With its variety of shapes, sizes, and colours available, you can find the perfect companion plants to bring colour and texture to any outdoor space. From wintery whites to bright red buds, the array of different varieties of Viburnum Tinus are sure to draw in pollinators and provide an inviting environment for these important garden visitors. Bees play an integral part in our eco system, so adding Viburnum Tinus to your garden will give them a helping hand – and make your outdoor space look beautiful too!
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