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Versatile
Viburnums
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Unfortunately, one of the most
versatile groups of shrubs for Wyobraska landscapes
is also one of the least known by local homeowners.
Ask the average Wyobraska homeowner, “What’s a
viburnum?” and you’re likely to get an answer that
has something to do with a device that eases muscle
aches and pains. But in reality viburnums are a
group of medium to large shrubs, many of which are
well-adapted to Wyobraska landscapes, and which are
also very useful landscape plants.
Several factors make viburnums
such useful landscape plants. First, their
excellent adaptability to the region’s soils. Most
can be grown successfully in landscapes with only
standard soil amending—no heroic measures required.
Second, the hardiest of the viburnums are
sufficiently cold hardy to grow and bloom reliably
in Wyobraska’s zone 4-5 climate year after year.
And third, their large shrub-small tree size and
habit makes them the perfect plant choice for many
spots in a landscape for which that size plant is
needed. |
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Blackhaw viburnum (viburnum
prunifolium) This viburnum has not been widely
used around the Wyobraska region, but it probably
should be. It is an 8-10’ tall plant with a dense
branching structure. The foliage is a glossy green
in summer. On some cultivars, the new leaves
feature a reddish cast. Spring bloom color is
white. Fall color is red. I recently ran across a
beautiful mature specimen of this plant in Alliance,
Nebraska.
Koreanspice viburnum (viburnum
carlesii) This viburnum is more of a spreading
medium sized shrub. Its flowers are pink and very
fragrant, hence the common name. Expect this plant
to get 6-8 feet tall with a similar spread. The
koreanspice viburnum has been among the most widely
hybridized viburnums, and many of the resulting
cultivars also appear to be suitable for Wyobraska
landscapes. The goal of much of the hybridization
seems to have been to produce even better flower
quality. One cultivar—Juddi Viburnum has pink buds
which open to fragrant white flowers.
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Yes It's Time March 12
Pruning Trees March 26
Plant a Tree in 2009 April 02
Great Old Trees April 09
"Nightmare
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Green, Easy & Cheap April 23
No GardenSpace? No Problem
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May 14
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May 21
Do it yourself Landscape Planning
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Butterfly Gardening June 4
2008 Articles
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It is the medium to large shrub
size of viburnums that makes them the dependable
“background” shrubs that are essential to a
well-designed landscape. All landscapes require
plants to screen views, separate one space from
another, and screen the vertical architectural lines
of buildings. These functional, structural plants
are sometimes called the “bones” of a landscape.
Viburnums make great landscape bones.
What keeps viburnums such a
well-kept secret is that, for most of the growing
season, they are not particularly showy shrubs.
Their full summertime foliage, in varying shades
of green, contributes to a landscape a consistent
green background to show off summer blooming shrubs
and perennial flowers. Their winter branching
structure is neat and substantial. But viburnums
aren’t quiet background plants for the entire year.
In fact, one of their best features is that they
contribute landscape color during the two seasons
when color is in short supply in Wyobraska
landscapes—spring and fall.
Almost all viburnums offer a
dependable spring bloom—mostly white flowers in
mid-spring. The bloom typically becomes a late
summer fruit or berry in colors ranging from blue to
red to orange. And best of all, with a few
exceptions, the red fall foliage of viburnums is
among the best in the shrub world.
Juddii Viburnum
A garden without a
viburnum is akin to life
without music or art.
- Michael A. Dirr
Click here for more pictures
and information on Viburnums
Arrowwood Viburnum |
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Burkwood viburnum (viburnum
burkwoodi) This is a cross between the Korean spice
viburnum and another viburnum common to the eastern
United States. It has a somewhat more uniform
growth habit than either of its parents and is
reportedly somewhat hardier than the Koreanspice
viburnum. It typically forms a rounded plant
reaching 8 feet in height and six feet across.
Arrowood viburnums might fall
into the “not so fast” class. Arrowood viburnums
are among the most popular viburnums nationally
because of their neat upright form and clean foliage
with good red fall color. There are numerous
cultivars of this species as a result. I have tried
two or three with mixed results—it would appear
because of soil adaptability problems. However one
viburnum expert I trust assures me that a cultivar
called ‘Chicago Lustre’ is definitely worth trying.
Cranberry viburnum is the
common name for the viburnum species that includes
the popular “snowball bush”. The snowball bush does
have it’s moment when it is in bloom, but it has
little to offer the rest of the year. There are
several cranberry viburnums that are excellent
Wyobraska shrubs. I suggest cultivars named ‘hahs’,
‘sargenti’, and ‘red wing’. All tend to be 8’
shrubs with a little more open habit than other
viburnums, with outstanding spring bloom, excellent
berry color in late summer, and good red fall color.
There’s a good chance you’ll be seeing some
viburnums on this year’s Theatre West Garden Walk.
This year’s walk will be held on Saturday, June 27th.
Tickets are on sale now at garden centers around the
community and at the Theatre West Box Office. Plan
now to attend and don’t be surprised if, as you’re
admiring a medium to large shrub, someone says,
“That’s a viburnum |