In gardening circles, I am frequently asked, "How do you feel about certain plants?" Without becoming too intense, or too philosophical, I must admit that I don't feel anything about some plants. It's not that I am an unfeeling gardener or even a difficult-to-understand person - I just don't always bond with every plant. In my defense, I must say I do develop feelings for certain plants. In fact, I have distinctly good "vibes" about viburnums.
It is hard to imagine such a diverse group of shrubs as the viburnums. These distinguished plants trace their origins from Siberia, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and exotic far-off provinces of China. Others originate in the British Isles. Still others trace their homeland to parts of Canada, including Hudson Bay and Prince Edward Island. Others spread farther south into the mountains of Georgia and Tennessee and west into the Rocky Mountains. They grow along lowland streams and up very harsh mountain sides.Further evidence of their diversity shows in their growth habits. Some are evergreen, even in colder climates like ours. Some are partially deciduous and tenaciously hold onto some foliage throughout the winter, while others are fully deciduous. Leaf size ranges from small to large and from ordinary to the unusual but very interesting "Leatherleaf" viburnum. Deciduous varieties show great variation in fall leaf color. Some turn brown and slip away unnoticed, while others develop rich shades of red, orange, burgundy and purple.
Plant size ranges from the dwarf European cranberry bush that tops out a mere 2 feet, to nannyberry that grows over 30 feet tall. Plant width likewise ranges from 2 to 30 feet. While some are slender, upright, ascending plants, others are spreading, ground-hugging shrubs.
I am particularly fond of many of the flowers. Some species rarely flower or have small, insignificant blooms, while others develop spectacular beauty. Common snowballs gain their name because the shrub appears as though it is covered with snowballs. Small, dainty pink clusters grace other varieties, but the real showstoppers are covered with flowerballs formed of collections of miniature pink trumpets. The fragrant varieties fill the air with delightful perfume as they blos-som.
On many species the flowers turn into fruit. Some of the fruits are small, black and inconspicuous, but others are much larger. Collectively they show a rainbow of color, with different species turning red, orange, scarlet, blue or black. Varieties such as the American cranberry are even edible.
I highly recommend viburnums because they tolerate alkalinity and do surprisingly well in heavy clay soil. Depending on the species, they do well in full sun or partial shade and survive nicely with ordinary garden irrigation.
If there is a drawback to these wonderful shrubs, it has to be a small, lurking garden pest. Aphids are almost synonymous with snowballs. Because they emerge so early, there are few predators to help battle these sap-sucking insects. Unless curled leaves don't bother you, using dormant oil as the buds start to open is almost a necessity. Thrips, spider mites and scale occasionally attack the plants, but regular control is not needed. Viburnums seldom, if ever, develop diseases in our climate.
In your quest for interesting and adaptable plants, spend time getting better "vibes" about viburnums. Their diversity, size, growth habits, colors, flowers, fruits and adaptation to local growing conditions make them welcome residents in almost any landscape and choice tenants in most.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Bushes
BOTANICAL NAME/COMMON NAME: V.X. bodnantense - Pink dawn viburnum
DESCRIPTION: Large deciduous shrub to 10 feet with deeply veined leaves.
COLOR: Pink in spring, scarlet in the fall, fragant
FRUIT: Dark blue
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 6
BOTANICAL NAME/COMMON NAME: V. burkwoodii - Burkwood viburnum
DESCRIPTION: Open branched 6 foot height spread. Dark leaves with silver underside. Sun/partial shade. Red fall color.
COLOR: White flower clusters, fragrant
FRUIT: No fruit
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 6
BOTANICAL NAME/COMMON NAME: V. carlcephalum - Fragrant snowball
DESCRIPTION: 8-10 feet tall, 4-5 foot spread. Dull gray-green leaves, fuzzy underneath.
COLOR: Long-lasting white, fragrant
FRUIT: No fruit
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 2
BOTANICAL NAME/COMMON NAME: V. carlesii - Korean spice vebrunum
DESCRIPTION: 4-8 feet tall, 4-5 foot spread. Dull green leaves, fuzzy underneath.
COLOR: Pink open to white
FRUIT: Blue-black
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 2
BOTANICAL NAME/COMMON NAME: V. dentatum - Arrowwood
DESCRIPTION: 8 foot height, 8 foot spread. Tolerates wet soils, sun or shade. Red fall color.
COLOR: White flowers in June
FRUIT: Edible blue-black berries
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 2
BOTANICAL NAME/COMMON NAME: V. lantana - Wayfaring tree
DESCRIPTION: Upright shrub to 15 feet with dark green foliage in fall. Excellent in dry soils.
COLOR: Creamy white flowers in late April or May
FRUIT: Orange-red frit turns black
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 3
BOTANICAL NAME/COMMON NAME: V. lantana Mohican - Mohican viburnum
DESCRIPTION: 6-8 foot plant.
COLOR: Creamy white flowers in late April, early May
FRUIT: Orange-red fruit turns black
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 5
BOTANICAL NAME/COMMON NAME: V. lentago - Nannyberry
DESCRIPTION: Small tree or large shrub to 30 feet.
COLOR: Creamy white
FRUIT: Red to blue
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 2
BOTANICAL NAME/COMMON NAME: V. opulus Nanum - Dwarf European cranberry bush
DESCRIPTION: Dense, mounding shrub to 2 feet with spread of 2 feet. Good for low hedge or foundation planting. Red fall color.
COLOR: Rarely flowers
FRUIT: Rarely fruits
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 4
BOTANICAL NAME/COMMON NAME: V. opulus Roseum - Common snowball
DESCRIPTION: Deciduous shrub to 12 feet. Sun.
COLOR: Large clusters of greenish flowers turn white
FRUIT: Rarely fruits
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 3
BOTANICAL NAME: V. Plicatum (varieties):
COMMON NAME: Maries . . .
DESCRIPTION: 10 foot height, 10 foot spread. Reddish-purple fall color.
COLOR: White flowers
FRUIT: Red fruit turns black
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 5
COMMON NAME: Newport . . .
DESCRIPTION: 5 foot height, 3 foot spread. Burgundy fall color.
COLOR: Double white flowers
FRUIT:
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 5
COMMON NAME: Shasta . . .
DESCRIPTION: 6 foot height, 12 foot spread.
COLOR: White flowers
FRUIT: Scarlet fruit
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 5
COMMON NAME: Summer snowflake . . .
DESCRIPTION: 5 foot height, 5 foot spread. Blooms all summer.
COLOR: White flowers
FRUIT:
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 5
COMMON NAME: Shoshoni . . .
DESCRIPTION: 5 foot height, 8 foot spread. Reddish-purple fall color.
COLOR: Showy flowers (sterile)
FRUIT:
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 5
BOTANICAL NAME/COMMON NAME: V. rhytiodophyllum - Leatherleaf viburnum
DESCRIPTION: Narrow, upright evergreen to 15 feet. Long green leaves are crinkled, fuzzy beneath.
COLOR: Cluster of off-white spring flowers.
FRUIT: Scarlet fruit
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 4
BOTANICAL NAME/COMMON NAME: V. sargentii - Sargent cranberry bush
DESCRIPTION: Large vigorous shrub to 12 feet.
COLOR: Creamy white flowers in flat clusters
FRUIT: large scarlet fruit
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 3
BOTANICAL NAME/COMMON NAME: V. sargentii Onodaga - Onadaga viburnum
DESCRIPTION: 8 foot height, 8 foot spread. Velvety maroon foilage turns deep green. Red fall color.
COLOR: Flowers are tinged purple
FRUIT:
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 4
BOTANICAL NAME: V. trilobum (varieties):
COMMON NAME: American cranberry bush
DESCRIPTION: 10 foot height, 8 foot spread. Green-lobed leaves turn red in fall.
COLOR: White flowers in May
FRUIT: Edible scarlet berries
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 2
COMMON NAME: Alfredo compact . . .
DESCRIPTION: 5 foot height, 5 foot spread.
COLOR:
FRUIT:
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 2
COMMON NAME: Bailey compact . . .
DESCRIPTION: 6 foot height, 6 foot spread. Deep red fall color.
COLOR:
FRUIT:
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 2
COMMON NAME: Hahs cranberry . . .
DESCRIPTION: 8 foot height, 8 foot spread. Dark green foliage.
COLOR:
FRUIT:
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 2
COMMON NAME: Wentworth . . .
DESCRIPTION: 12 foot height, 12 foot spread. Heavy fruit.
COLOR:
FRUIT:
USDA HARDINESS ZONE: 2