The laurel-leaved Viburnum is a native of the Mediterranean region, the Near East and North Africa. Supposedly it prefers shady, humid areas – in my garden I have an older specimen in full sun and it does just fine. Another one has seeded itself in a shady spot where it does bloom a bit longer there and where its flowers are all white. Both do not get any watering and could not care less.
Viburnum tinus is an evergreen, hardy (-12°C for most types) shrub and can reach up to 2.50 meters in height. The leaves are dark green, the small fragrant flowers are white or white with pink. They bloom in winter and early spring and are followed by dark berries.
Apparently leaves of Viburnum tinus are home to phytoseid mites, who prey on orchard mites. So it might be an idea to plant it in an orchard for natural pest control. The leaves have fever-reducing properties, the fruits can apparently be used against constipation – says Wikipedia.
I probably would not have planted one myself, since I did not have any feelings at all, neither positive nor negative, towards Viburnum. They simply did not register either on my “must-have-plants” or “plants-I-hate” lists.
But since getting to know them here, I am now quite convinced and ready to recommend them for a Mediterranean garden.
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