Viburnum tinus 'Loren' LISAROSE^®

Laurustinus is a tough, evergreen shrub from the Mediterranean basin whose native habitat ranges from Portugal and Spain in the west, to Turkey in the east, and from Libya in the south, back to Morocco in the southwest, including nearby islands (Canary, Balearic etc.). It is so versatile to grow in dry and hot climate near Africa as well as in milder parts of Europe with higher humidity and rainfall. Unlike most other shrubs indigenous to dry lands of the Mediterranean that are commonly spiny, prickly, or exhibit another turn-off, laurustinus boasts handsome, leathery but soft, entire (spine-free) foliage. Interestingly, on the other hand it proved hardy enough to grow happily down to USDA zone 7, but let’s check its varieties first.

LISAROSE^® is a French laurustinus variety bred by Dominique Renvoisé a Gèrard Long in 2005. It is a cross of unnamed selections and the result was a bushy plant with rosy pink buds and white to pink flowers. Granted patents: PP22816 (USA – 2012) and EU 26621 (Europe – 2008).

LISAROSE^® laurustinus is a dense and many branched evergreen shrub of broadly upright habit. Its leaves are 6-7 cm long and 3-4 cm wide, ovate, leathery but thinner than most evergreens, medium to dark green, and glossier than most other varieties. As early as in late August it starts to produce a profusion of highly attractive terminal cymes composed of purple pink flower buds which open into tiny, fragrant flowers in October. They are white as they open and gain pink shades as the weather turns colder. In mild winters of zones 7 and higher it may bloom until March the following year. They are tolerant of light frost so even in colder zones you can see a profusely blooming shrub in early December. Flowers are followed by small, inedible but not poisonous, blue berries unless they are killed by severe frost. Stems are softly hairy, light green in summer and turn maroon in autumn and winter.

Apart from flowers, laurustinus is cultivated for its lush foliage and compact habit. It forms broadly upright, dense shrubs that are used in mixed borders as well as informal evergreen hedges and along pathways, especially in warmer zones (7 and up). In USDA zone 6 it grows about 1-1.5m tall and in warmer zones it can be almost 2m tall.

Now, let’s explore its hardiness. Despite its origin many trials proved that it can be cultivated down to USDA zone 6 or even 5b where it is root hardy as a perennial. Even if the top growth is killed by frost it always regenerates from live framework, just prune it after harsh winter and in a couple of months you will again have a beautiful, leafy shrub. In zone 6 it is best to grow it a mixed border combined with other evergreen plants which create a microclimate protecting it from sudden temperature swings. Location hidden from winter sunlight is also recommended there. Our shrub survived our strongest winter of 2006/2007 (-27 °C for 3 consecutive nights) when it was killed almost to the ground but resprouted and in early summer it was some 45-50 cm tall and bushy.

Laurustinus will grow virtually in any free-draining soil, but performs best in fertile, moist soil, acidic pH will help the foliage keep its healthy, deep green colour but is not a must. Mulching is crucial in zone 6 and lower. Small plants should be covered by evergreen boughs in winter. Fully (stem) hardy to -17 °C (zone 7), and root-hardy down to even -27 °C (USDA zone 5b) with protection.

Last update 28-09-2021