Viburnum Tinus Spirit
The ultimate shrub for year round interest
The Viburnum Tinus Spirit is a fully hardy evergreen shrub. Perhaps with a little more to offer than the regular Viburnum Tinus or the form Eve Price.
The pictures above and below were taken in mid September. See how the pink buds are already covering the shrub. Very promising for a good Winter display of flowers.
By the time we got to November the slightly scented flowers started to open. The sunny situation at the front of the house seems to suit Spirit very well.
These last two pictures taken in the first day of March lets you see Tinus Spirit still flowering profusely, and should continue to do so into April.
plant profile
Viburnum Tinus Spirit is a shrubby evergreen plant, more rounded, shorter and less stiff than the more common Tinus or Eve Price.
Although I may have a preference for Spirit, I have to say the regular form of Tinus and Eve Price lend themselves more to the formal garden and the flowers are sharper and pristine.
All in all I am extremely happy with the performance of Viburnum Spirit in our garden. For whatever reason I missed the opportunity of taking pictures in Autumn when in berry. Well to be honest I hate taking pictures in the front garden.
general details
Hardiness
Fully hardy throughout the UK
Leaves and flowers
The leaves of this evergreen shrub are ovate and dark green. The flower buds in Autumn and early Winter are pink opening white and lightly scented, lasting from November through till April. Let’s not forget about the Autumn berries which are blue/black.
Pruning
Pruning is not really necessary unless you want to restrict growth. If you do decide to prune then do so in late Spring or when the flowers have gone over otherwise you will have no flowers next season.
Height
After ten years height and spread will be approx 2m x 2m if not pruned.
Position and soil
Full sun/part shade. Will grow in any reasonable well drained soil, acidic, neutral, alkaline.
Late February in the garden
Last year it was well into March before the Crocus were at their best. This year with the unusually mild Winter weather, they were much earlier. We have had February days with temps of 15/16c and not a snow shower as yet. Feels like a good thing, but, is it?
The Snowdrops (nivalis) still just hanging on. I am waiting for more of them coming in – in the green. I purchased bulbs in the Autumn, didn’t, come to much, its true what they say, you really do need to buy them in the green.
The Daffodil tete – a – tete started to bloom in early February, still looking good at the beginning of March.
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Crocus are always a welcome sight in early Spring, shame about the rabbit problem.
I so miss my crocus plants. We dug them up before we moved but when we replanted them a happy little critter, possibly the local bunnies, came and ate them… I might have found a place to grow some more but haven’t had time to start yet.
Winter flowering plants are a bonus.
Wow! I really like that Viburnum. I have several varieties of viburnum, and now you have me lusting after Spirit, though I have no idea if it is available in my part of the world!
Hello Nadezda
After some very mild days it has now turned cold, still haven’t had any snow.
Hello, Alistair!
I agree Viburnum is nice and easy in growth plant. I long ago wanted to purchase it but didn’t find the variety that goes to our climate, not evergreen plant.
Lovely crocuses, they always remind me that spring is coming. Unfortunately there is a lot of snow yet in my garden.
Hug!
Jacob, I tried to comment on your site and could not get past the pesky captcha.
The flowers are gorgeous. Makes me wish I had a house to plant flowers at again. Unfortunately I’m stuck with an office cubicle and some pots.
I had a look Ellen. What a fantastic thing to do and the site looks great
Delighted by all your colourful bulbs.
No Alistair, I don’t. I am the secretary of my local gardening club, feel free to take a look, Biddenham Gardeners Association.
I don’t know why they bother selling snowdrop bulbs, they just don’t work. The weather at the moment is very typical of early March Frances.
Hello Ellen
I lean towards the weather being a bit of a fluke with the gulf stream being responsible, well I hope so.
Thank you very much for taking the time to comment, do you have your own blog?
It is a lovely shrub indeed. The crocuses are a cheerful sight to see. I have never known a February like it, so warm and mild. Whilst is was lovely to garden in the sunshine and warmth, I was concerned as it is not meant to be like that in February! Does it mean that our weather pattern will change, if so how will our flora and fauna cope? Very worrying, unless it is a one off. I watched the Brimstones today looking for suitable plants of which I have none, so ordered alder buckthorns to help them. Thanks for your blog and pictures Alistair, I really enjoy them. Ellen.
I do like your little pots of crocus Alistair, they look very cheery, the viburnum looks lovely and a nice bonus to have perfume too at this time of year, the snowdrops and tete – a – tete also look nice, I only finally got snowdrops to grow in my garden after I bought some ‘in the green’ I had not known about this way of buying them, the weather here has been nice for the time of year but not as warm as you have had it, back to normal today with wind and rain currently, which is forecast to get much worse later, I have enjoyed a few days in the garden, Frances