Viburnum tinus

Viburnum tinus is one of the most useful evergreen shrubs you can grow. Dense glossy dark green leathery leaves form a solid year-round backdrop, and from autumn through to early spring the plant carries flat clusters of small pink-white flowers, opening from pink buds, with a long run of colour during the quietest months. Blue-black berries follow in summer.

Reaches around 3m tall and wide, responding beautifully to clipping for hedging, topiary balls, or standard forms. Native to the Mediterranean but hardy through most of the UK once established.

Plant in any reasonable soil in full sun to partial shade. Tolerant of coastal sites and urban pollution. Clip after flowering in late spring.

A firm favourite for structural evergreen hedges, topiary standards by front doors, clipped balls in pots, and all-round reliable garden structure.