Viburnums come in many
sizes, shapes and types. Most are deciduous but a few are
considered broad leaf evergreens. Flowers may be round or flat
clusters and many are quite fragrant. Colorful fruit and
handsome fall color extend the beauty of many species of
viburnums.
The viburnums tolerate a range of soils as
long as they are well drained. Many will do quite well in
shade although flowering, fruiting and fall color are usually
better in higher light conditions. They require a minimum of
pruning and other care if proper cultivars are chosen for the
site.
The following are just a few of the more
commonly grown viburnums for the landscape:
American Cranberrybush Viburnum
(Viburnum trilobum) - This Viburnum
is upright, rounded in form maturing up to 12 feet in height. The white
clusters of flowers occur in mid-spring. The excellent red fruit holds
late into the winter.
Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) - A native species which
will mature in an upright rounded shape at 12-15 feet. It will withstand
heavy shade and moist soil conditions. The flowers are flat white
clusters in mid-spring, and the fruit is blue-black.
Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) - At maturity this
upright-rounded plant reaches 15 feet. The flowers in mid-spring are in flat
white clusters. The fruits are up to 1l2 inches long and blue-black in
color. An excellent plant as a specimen or for massing.
Burkwood Viburnum (Viburnum x burkwoodii) - The Burkwood Viburnum is a favorite in
many landscapes because of its bright, dark green foliage
and fragrant flowers which are borne in rounded heads in
mid-April to early May. It is semi-evergreen and combines
many of the better traits of other viburnums.
Doublefile Viburnum (Viburnum
plicatum var. tomentosa) - This is a wonderful multi-season shrub
with a horizontal growth habit. In May, it is covered with
white flowers in flat heads held above the foliage. There is
an outer circle of large petals with an inner circle so
small white flowers thus the name doublefile. Later, red
fruit develops followed by red leaf fall color.
European Cranberry Bush (Viburnum opulus) -This commonly used viburnum has lobed, "Maple-
like" leaves and grows to about 8-12 feet in height. The
flowers are white, borne in a flat-topped head 2-3 inches in
diameter in mid-May.
Judd Viburnum (Viburnum juddii) - Matures at approximately 8' and is
spreading and rounded in habit. The flowers in early spring are
semi-snowball changing from pink in bud to white. The fruit is black.
Korean Spice Viburnum (Viburnum carlesii) -This fragrant flowering shrub grows 4-8 feet
in height in a rounded form. The velvety leaves are a medium
green in color. In late April to early May, extremely
fragrant flowers are borne in rounded heads 2-3 inches in
diameter. The fruit is red, changing to black and the shrub
has a burgundy fall color.
Linden Viburnum (Viburnum dilatatum) - This species matures at 8-10
feet
with flowers occurring in late spring in flat white clusters. It's one
of the best of the fruiting types with numerous, colorful, small, red
berries.
Nannyberry Viburnum (Viburnum lentago) - This native species will
mature at 30 feet and can be grown into a tree form. It's often used as a
background planting, as a screen, or as a foreground along the edge of
woodlands. The flowers in mid-May are flat white clusters, and the
fruit, a favorite of birds, is blue-black.
Snowball Bush (Viburnum opulus `Roseum')
- Similar in all characteristics to the European Cranberry
Bush except that the flowers are borne in a showy, rounded
flower head 2-3 inches in diameter. This viburnum has been
around a long time and is a garden classic.
Wayfaringtree Viburnum
(Viburnum lantana) - This species has an
upright spreading form reaching 15 feet which lends itself to use in screen
plantings. The flowers in mid-May are creamy-white flat clusters. The
fruit is Greenish- yellow changing to red and finally black. This is an
excellent shrub for dry soils.
