Viburnum tinus

Viburnum tinus
In Hérault, southern France
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Dipsacales
Family: Adoxaceae
Genus: Viburnum
Species:
V. tinus
Binomial name
Viburnum tinus
Synonyms
  • Viburnum rigidum Vent.
  • Viburnum rugosum Pers.
  • Viburnum strictum Link
  • Tinus lucidus J.Presl
  • Tinus lauriformis J.Presl
  • Tinus laurifolius Borkh. in Roem.
  • Viburnum lauriforme Lam.
  • Viburnum hyemale Salisb.

Viburnum tinus, the laurustinus or laurustine, is a species of flowering plant in the family Adoxaceae, native to the Mediterranean area of Europe and North Africa.

Description

Flower and leaves

It is a shrub (rarely a small tree) reaching 2–7 m (7–23 ft) tall and 3 m (10 ft) broad,[2] with a dense, rounded crown. The leaves are evergreen, persisting 2–3 years, ovate to elliptic, borne in opposite pairs, 4–10 cm long and 2–4 cm broad, fine hairs persisting on the underside, with an entire margin.

The flowers are small, white or light pink, produced from reddish-pink buds in dense cymes 5–10 cm diameter in the winter. The fragrant flowers (some consider the fragrance offensive, especially after rain when it is very strong) are bisexual (monoecious — having both male and female parts on one plant) and pentamerous. The flowering period is in winter, or from October to June in the northern hemisphere. The five petals are tubular, with rounded, corolla lobes, pink in the bud but later white. There is only one whorl with five stamens. Pollination is by insects. The fruit is a dark blue-black drupe 5–7 mm long. A 2020 study of the metallic blue hue of the fruit revealed microscopic globules of fat to be the cause, an example of structural colour,[3] which is unusual in plants.

The leaves have domatia where predatory and microbivorous mites can be housed.[4]

Distribution and habitat

Native to the Mediterranean region, Viburnum tinus prefers shady, moist areas. It is most commonly found in the western Mediterranean due to a shorter drought season and is one of the dominant species of Mediterranean sclerophyllous shrubland.[1] It was introduced to Britain by 1596, and is now widely naturalised in southern England, and more locally in northern England, Wales, and Scotland; it is also locally naturalised in southeastern Ireland.[5] It has also been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, the United States (California, Oregon) and Tajikistan.[6]

Cultivation

Viburnum tinus is widely cultivated for its winter flowers and metallic blue berries. It is hardy down to −10 °C (14 °F). The cultivars 'Eve Price',[7] 'French White'[8] and 'Gwenllian'[9] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[10]

Other uses

'The active ingredients are viburnin (a substance or more probably a mixture of compounds) and tannins. Tannins can cause stomach upset. The leaves when infused are said to have antipyretic properties. The fruits have been used as purgatives against constipation. The tincture has been used lately in herbal medicine as a remedy for depression. The plant also contains iridoid glucosides.[11]

Pests

In south-east Britain, Viburnum tinus is the principal host of the viburnum beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni), the country's "number one pest species" according to the Royal Horticultural Society.[12]

Etymology

The generic name of the plant derives from Latin viburnum, referring to Viburnum lantana.[13] The specific name derives from Latin tinus referring to the plant itself, Viburnum tinus.[14] Laurus in 'laurustinus' signifies the leaves' similarities to bay laurel.

  • Plant
    Plant
  • Inflorescence
    Inflorescence
  • Close-up on flowers
    Close-up on flowers
  • Unripe fruit
    Unripe fruit
  • Ripe fruit
    Ripe fruit
  • Close-up of fruit
    Close-up of fruit
  • Leaf
    Leaf

References

  1. ^ a b Wilson, B. (2018). "Viburnum tinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018 e.T79146836A121076349. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T79146836A121076349.en. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  2. ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  3. ^ Hartley, Charlotte (2020-08-06). "The secret to this fruit's mysterious blue color". Science | AAAS. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  4. ^ Plants, mites and mutualism: leaf domatia and the abundance and reproduction of mites on Viburnum tinus (Caprifoliaceae). Raul Grostal and Dennis J. O'Dowd, Oecologia, April 1994, Volume 97, Issue 3, pages 308-315, doi:10.1007/BF00317319
  5. ^ "Laurustinus Viburnum tinus L." PlantAtlas. Retrieved 2026-04-01.
  6. ^ "Viburnum tinus L." Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
  7. ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Viburnum tinus 'Eve Price'". Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  8. ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Viburnum tinus 'French White'". Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  9. ^ "RHS Plantfinder - Viburnum tinus 'Gwenllian'". Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  10. ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 107. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  11. ^ Iridoid glucosides from Viburnum tinus. Lamberto Tomassini, M. Francesca Cometa, Sebastiano Foddai and Marcello Nicoletti, Phytochemistry, January 1995, Volume 38, Issue 2, Pages 423–425, doi:10.1016/0031-9422(94)00618-4
  12. ^ "Top 10 pests". Wisley, England: Royal Horticultural Society. 19 January 2011. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  13. ^ viburnum. Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short. A Latin Dictionary on Perseus Project.
  14. ^ tinus. Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short. A Latin Dictionary on Perseus Project.
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