Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus)

The Viburnum tinus is a very decorative shrub

El Viburnum tinus It is a beautiful and popular shrub that produces striking white flowers. In addition, as it does not grow much, it can be grown both in pots and in the garden, since you only have to take into account a series of things that I am going to tell you below so that it is healthy.

So whether or not you have experience taking care of plants and want one that is resistant, know everything about him Viburnum tinus 🙂.

Origin and characteristics

The flowers of the Viburnum tinus are white

Our protagonist is an evergreen plant (that is, it remains evergreen) that can grow up to 7 meters in height, but normally it is not allowed to exceed 3 meters. Its scientific name is Viburnum tinus, although it is known as durillo or false laurel, and is native to the Mediterranean region. Its leaves are opposite, ovate-elliptical, shiny on the upper side and lighter on the underside, and they measure 3 to 12cm by 3 to 7cm.

The flowers are hermaphroditic, white, and are grouped in umbel-shaped inflorescences. The fruit is a dark metallic blue-purplish drupe that contains a single inedible seed.

What are their cares?

The durillo plant is very ornamental

If you want to have a copy, we recommend that you provide it with the following care:

Location

You can put your durillo plant in both semi-shade and full sun, but it is important that it is abroad since it is not adapted to living inside the home.

Earth

  • Flower pot: it is not necessary to complicate much. With a universal substrate that they already sell prepared in any nursery or garden store, it can grow well.
  • Garden: grows in all types of soils, even calcareous ones, provided they have good drainage.

Irrigation

It has to be watered every 2-3 days in summer, and every 4 or 5 days the rest of the year. We must avoid waterlogging, especially if it is in a pot since it would not support it.

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From early spring to late summer must be paid once a month, if possible with ecological fertilizers since these do not harm the environment.

Multiplication

El Viburnum tinus You can multiply by seeds and by cuttings. Let's see how to proceed in each case:

Seeds

The fruits of the Viburnum tinus are not edible

The seeds need to stratify in the refrigerator at around 4ºC during the winter. It is done as follows:

  1. First you have to take a tupperware with a lid and fill it with vermiculite previously moistened with water.
  2. The seeds are then placed on the surface, sprinkled with copper or sulfur to prevent the appearance of fungi, and covered with a layer of vermiculite.
  3. Next, the container is covered and placed in the refrigerator (in the part with milk, fruits, etc.).
  4. Finally, once a week and for three months the tupperware is taken out and opened to allow the air to be renewed.

After stratification, the seeds are sown in pots:

  1. The first thing to do is fill a pot of about 10,5cm in diameter with universal growing substrate.
  2. Then, it is watered consciously.
  3. The seeds are then placed on the surface and sprinkled with copper or sulfur.
  4. The next step is to cover them with a layer of substrate.
  5. Finally, the pot is placed outside, in semi-shade.

So will germinate in 1-2 months.

Cuttings

A faster way to get a specimen is by multiplying it with hardwood cuttings in late winter. following this step by step:

  1. A branch of about 30 centimeters is cut and the base is impregnated with homemade rooting agents.
  2. Then it is planted in a pot with universal growing medium and watered.
  3. Finally, everything is covered with a plastic that has previously had some small holes, and is placed outside, in semi-shade.

Thus, the durillo will emit its own roots after about 1 month.

Pests

In general it is very resistant, but if the conditions are not suitable it can be attacked by:

  • Red spider: it is a mite that feeds on the sap of the leaves, where it leaves discolored spots. Sometimes they are not seen with the naked eye, but since they weave cobwebs it is easy to identify them. They are fought with acaricides.
  • Aphids: they are parasites of about 0,5 cm of yellow, green or brown color that attack the leaves and flowers. They are fought with yellow sticky traps that you will find here.

Management

If grown in an area with too much shade, it may have powdery mildew, which is manifested in white dust on the leaves. It is treated with fungicide, but it must also be applied Viburnum tinus in a place with more light.

Pruning

In principle you don't need it, but if it has dry, diseased or weak branches, they must be removed after flowering so that the plant continues to look as beautiful as ever.

Rusticity

The Viburnum tinus is a very decorative plant

Withstands cold and frost well up to -10ºC.

And with this we are done. What did you think of the Viburnum tinus? Do you dare to have one in your garden or patio?


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