Viburnum tinus – Balls (Laurustinus)

A hardy evergreen shrub with pretty little leaves, glossy and deep green, elegantly oval with fine tips, and masses of scented flowers in winter. Just when you need them. 

Some plants are born architectural, some acquire architecture and some have architecture thrust upon them. Viburnum tinus can be - and has been- thrust upon for yonks and it’s a really tough and versatile thing. These balls are a grrrreat example of a perfectly nice plant elevated into something special and we wouldn't be without them in any architectural garden. Call them boules, globes, nuts, orbs. Whatever you call yours is fine by us. They’re instant classical oomph for a formal layout in a polite courtyard, add essential shape and structure for newly-planted areas and have that bit posh/ bit eccentric quality to them that all clipped shrubs bring to a garden. These are hardy plants and can be located in most aspects and on any soils, so you can really play with your boules. In front of your neighbours, if you want.