Description:

Bright pink buds open to white flowers from late winter until spring, against cream and green variegated leaves; has a mounded, upright growth habit; can tolerate more shade than most viburnums; excellent in a border, or as a hedge

Ornamental Features

Variegated Laurustinus features showy cymes of lightly-scented white star-shaped flowers at the ends of the branches from late winter to mid spring, which emerge from distinctive pink flower buds. It has attractive creamy white-variegated dark green foliage with hints of buttery yellow which emerges light green in spring. The glossy pointy leaves are highly ornamental and remain dark green throughout the winter. The navy blue fruits with black overtones are held in clusters in mid summer. The smooth gray bark and red branches add an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Variegated Laurustinus is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a mounded form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Variegated Laurustinus is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Variegated Laurustinus will grow to be about 10 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under average home landscape conditions. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.