The Stunning, Fast-Growing Shrub That Attracts Pollinators & Birds To Your Yard

Invite some winged friends to your yard with a dependable shrub that has bright flowers and fruit for them to enjoy. Gardens can look a little lackluster without any visitors, and it's good to have a variety of plants that cover every season so you don't have any gaps in color or activity. Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus) is a fast-growing plant that draws pollinators in with the nutrients they need during the year, making it an excellent choice for any garden.

Laurustinus is one of several evergreen shrubs that can make your landscaping look great all year, and while it grows quicker when it's exposed to full sun, it can also withstand a considerable amount of shade. This variety of Viburnum can take anywhere from five to 10 years to grow to its maximum height, which is usually between 6 and 12 feet tall. However, some shrubs of this variety have been known to grow taller, and laurustinus that are 15 feet in height are commonly seen in California.

This beautiful plant, with its long-lasting flowers and fruit, can be grown in a range of garden types provided that your garden is located within USDA zones 8 to 10. Gardeners can even grow their laurustinus as a privacy screen, but its placement matters if you want it to grow well. It needs soil with good drainage and an available space of 6 to 12 feet.

The amazing thing about laurustinus is how quickly it grows and changes. In late winter and early spring, its pink buds become fragrant, white flowers that appeal to bees, butterflies, and songbirds (such as waxwings and robins). These blooms appear when few other plants are flowering, supplying nectar at a time when resources for animals are in short supply. After the flowers fade, berries take their place, starting as a metallic blue and maturing to a shiny black. They can be found on the shrub in winter with its flowers, or they may show up in spring, summer, or even fall. 

As it matures, laurustinus forms an upright, rounded shrub that has dense, multi-stemmed branches. Shrubs like this can create shelter or cover for the birds and other pollinators coming to your garden, but don't worry if you don't have the space for a 12-foot laurustinus shrub! For gardeners who know how to attract birds to their yard during the winter season but don't have the space for a full-grown laurustinus, there are other great plants you can add to your pollinator garden, or you could consider a dwarf variety of Viburnum.

If you do have enough space, planting two Viburnums near each other for cross-pollination is best. Doing this encourages more berries to form, which increases available food for birds later in the season. Laurustinus can help you create an active habitat for pollinators and birds throughout winter and spring.