Seasonal Wild Flowers

Laurustinus

Latin name

Viburnum tinus

Other names

Laurustinus Viburnum, Laurestine

Family

Adoxaceae

Flowering season

October to June

English distribution

The garden plant is found throughout the country.

The naturalized escape is found mainly in the South,

particularly in Devon, Somerset and Dorset, and

is thinly scattered elsewhere.

See the BSBI distribution map for Laurustinus

Habitat

It is a neophyte, which was introduced in the 1590s

and first noted in the wild in the early 1940s.

The garden escape grows in coastal scrub, on

sea-cliffs, rough grassland and by roads and

railways, and on waste ground on chalk and limestone.

It is on the increase.

Description

Laurustinus is a large, evergreen shrub (small tree)

growing up to 7m.

The flowers are small, white or pale pink, in dense

flowerheads up to 10cm.

Flowers are 5-merous (pentamerous).

Petals are creamy-white.

Anthers start off creamy-white and darken with age.

Stigmas are white discs.

Fruits are dark berries.

The leaves are lanceolate ovals up to 10cm.

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Laurustinus on waste ground,

Isle of Portland, Dorset

Recently opened flowerheads

Flowerhead

Young stamens

Older stamens, flat stigma discs

Leaves

Viburnum x bodnantense is very rarely naturalised