An evergreen shrub that flowers right through the winter, when almost nothing else does, and follows with dark metallic berries.
'Coppertop' is grown for the copper-red flush on its new growth, which sits against the older glossy dark green leaves and gives the shrub two colours at once through the growing season. Underneath that it behaves like the rest of the laurustinus family: dense, bushy, evergreen, and carrying flat heads of small flowers from autumn to spring followed by berries.
Plant it in most well-drained soils, chalk and clay included, in full sun or partial shade. Laurustinus grows wild on sea cliffs and takes a coastal garden well, though it does want shelter from the fiercest drying winds. Water it through its first season; after that it is drought tolerant and needs little more than a light trim once the flowers are over. The berries are harmful if eaten.
Supplied as an established plant in a 3 litre pot, ready to plant out or pot on.
Cultural Information
Common Name: Laurustinus
Fully Grown Height and Spread: 1.2 to 3m tall and wide, depending on the variety
Growth Habit: Bushy, dense and rounded
Perfect For: Informal hedging, screening, mixed borders, larger containers and wildlife gardens
Foliage: Evergreen, glossy dark green oval leaves
Flowering Time: Late autumn to spring, flat heads of pink buds opening white
Planting Position: Full sun or partial shade, good in a coastal garden with some shelter, and drought tolerant once established
Soil Type: Most well-drained soils, including chalk and clay
Hardiness: Fully hardy across Britain
Maintenance: Low; a light trim after flowering if it needs shaping
Seasonal Interest: Flowers from late autumn through winter into spring, with berries in autumn and winter
Type: Evergreen shrub
