Viburnum x tinus Fairy Stars® - Laurustinus

The Wayfaring Tree or Viburnum Fairy Stars® is a variety derived from Viburnum tinus or laurel tin very different from the usual wayfaring trees. It forms a compact and evergreen bush with small grey-green foliage edged in red, rounded and neat, covered in April and May with slightly scented, starry white umbels of flowers, carried on long stems. In autumn, the flowers are followed by red fruits that ripen and turn black. They are appreciated by garden birds. It is an excellent choice for small gardens and containers. A robust and carefree plant, it adapts to all exposures, even shade, and all soils, even very chalky and dry in summer. However, it requires a sheltered position from cold winds.

The laurel tin belongs to the caprifoliaceae family, or adoxaceae according to classifications. The species Viburnum tinus is native to the Mediterranean basin, found in undergrowth, forest edges, scrub vegetation, and maquis. It is a relatively cold-resistant evergreen bush (down to -15°C for short periods for an adult plant), which adapts to a wide range of soils as long as they are not too wet or waterlogged in winter. Its fruits are eaten by birds that 'sow' the plant under the trees they use as perches: it is typically an undergrowth bush that copes perfectly with the root competition of other trees.

Viburnum Fairy Stars, with relatively slow growth, forms a bushy, compact shrub, branching from the base. It reaches around 80 cm to 1 m in height and 1 m wide. Its branches bear narrower and more elegant leaves than the standard type. They are single, elliptical, pointed at their tips. With a leathery texture, they are slightly shiny and persist in winter. Flowering occurs in April and May. At the ends of the branches, inflorescences in cymes form, resembling small, round, slightly bulging bouquets. The buds open into small flowers of 2 to 3 mm in diameter, with 5 white petals. This slightly scented flowering is very popular with bees. After pollination, the flowers give way to ovoid berries measuring 4 to 5 mm long, initially red then a metallic blue-black, containing a single seed. In the laurel tin, the seeds need to be freed from their pulp to germinate: this naturally occurs in the digestive system of birds.

Easy to grow, compact, and with evergreen foliage, the laurel tin Fairy Stars is an ideal shrub for terraces and small gardens. It is essential for creating a durable plant structure, particularly in hot and dry regions where it thrives. Tolerant of shade and root competition, it pairs perfectly with Sarcococca or sacred bamboos. Thanks to its good resistance to repeated pruning, the laurel tin is perfect for topiary art, allowing for sculpting original shapes in its dense foliage.