Viburnum tinus L.

Evergreen shrub to c. 5 m high, nearly glabrous except for young shoots and lvs. Petioles 0.7–3–(4) cm long, purplish, often hispid on exposed stems. Lamina 5–13–(15) × 2–6–(7) cm, ovate, ovate-oblong or elliptic, entire, glabrous except for axillary tufts beneath, sometimes ± hispid on midrib and lower part of main veins on both sides, somewhat shining above; base broad-cuneate to rounded; apex obtuse or acute. Infl. corymbose, to c. 8 cm diam.; branches, bracts and calyx purplish or reddish purple, glabrous or sparsely stellate-hairy. Fls ± fragrant. Calyx lobes c. 1 mm long, triangular. Corolla 3.5–5 mm long, rotate, 7–9 mm diam., white at anthesis, often becoming pink. Stamens > corolla; anthers c. 1 mm long, broad-oblong. Drupe 6–7 mm long excluding calyx, broad-ovoid, shining dark blue.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Jan.–Dec.