Bright pink buds open against red-coloured branches and deep dark green evergreen leaves, from late autumn right through to early spring. Compact enough for a pot on a balcony or terrace, this laurestine (Viburnum tinus ‘Lisarose’) keeps bees fed in the coldest months; give it a very sunny spot sheltered from wind and the blooming lasts longer still.
| Name | Viburnum tinus ‘Lisarose’ |
|---|---|
| Family | Adoxaceae (formerly Caprifoliaceae) |
| Type | shrub |
| Height | 6 ½ feet (2 meters) |
| Exposure | full sun to shade |
| Soil | rich enough |
| Foliage | evergreen |
| Flowering | late autumn to early spring |
Viburnum tinus (also: laurestine) is ideally planted in fall, but can also be planted in spring if it is purchased in pots or in containers.
Apart from fall and spring, avoid days where there is either strong heat, or below freezing temperatures.
Its rather compact size lets it adapt well to growing in pots, which allows for decorating a balcony and terrace in fall and winter.
Care for this shrub is light, but each season asks for one thing in particular. Here is what the plant is doing and what you should be doing alongside it.
| Season | What the shrub does | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Starts into bloom at the end of fall | The ideal planting season; spring also works for pot-grown plants |
| Winter | Flowers on, feeding bees during warm spells | Shelter from wind in harsh climates to extend the blooming |
| Spring | Blooming ends and growth restarts | Flower shrub fertilizer; prune only once flowering is over |
| Summer | Uncomfortable in spots that get too hot | Water morning or evening in heat or drought, without flooding roots |
Watering matters most over the two first years after planting, and all year round for potted specimens.
Maintenance is reduced, especially when the shrub is well settled in.
Nonetheless, you may provide it with flower shrub fertilizer in spring to boost its growth, avoid diseases and enhance blooming.
In summer, in case of high temperatures and/or extended dry spell, remember to water in the morning or in the evening, without flooding roots.
Its small size (around 6 ½ feet (2 meters) tall and 6 ½ feet (2 meters) wide) makes it a shrub that doesn’t need pruning.
But if you wish to reduce it or balance the branches out, especially if potted, follow these steps.
Like most plants of the Viburnum genus, the ‘Lisarose’ variety blooms from the end of fall to the beginning of spring. It provides nectar and pollen to insects that are still active in that season.
During warm spells, beehives may send a few workers out even at the heart of winter to forage and recover more food.
Growing Viburnum tinus ‘Lisarose’ ensures bees will return home with a bountiful load!
Hold off on any insecticide or fungicide spray while the shrub is in flower, since it is one of the few nectar sources available to bees in the cold months.
Site it against a wall that catches winter sun: honeybees generally stay in the hive until air temperatures reach roughly 50–55°F (10–13°C), though sunshine, wind and colony need shift that threshold.
Resist snipping off the faded flower heads, or you lose the metallic blue berries that follow and the blackbirds they bring.
Viburnum tinus or laurestine is a small compact evergreen shrub that blooms very beautifully in fall and over winter.
Floral buds are cute bright pink, which marks a stark contrast to the magnificent red-colored branches. Everything is wrapped around with deep dark green leaves to create an ensemble that is simply beautiful.
Pretty hardy, it resists low temperatures down to 14°F (-10°C) or even down to 5°F (-15°C) if only for a short while.
Potted Viburnum tinus is the ideal solution on a terrace or a balcony. Berries will attract bird visitors!
If you live in an area where the climate is very harsh in winter, choose a very sunny spot sheltered from wind.
This will extend the duration of the blooming, since flowers won’t be subject to the coldest and most violent gusts.
