5 Ways to Use Viburnums in the Landscape

5 Ways to Use Viburnums in the Landscape

Viburnums. Why are we all not planting more hedges and massing these wonderfully versatile shrubs? They hold their own in every season. From the lacecap or snowball types of spring flowers to late summer to fall fruits and colorful fall foliage. And, they are so undemanding and unfussy, filling in just about every sort of garden puzzle. (I will confess that if I had to name my favorite shrub of all, it would be a Doublefile Viburnum. Or maybe the Eastern Snowball pictured above.)

If you have yet to experience a viburnum in full spring bloom, you are in for a real treat. If you’re already a fan, perhaps you might want to try another type. Here are 5 ways (and 15 choice picks) we love to use them.

FAST GROWING SCREEN

Allegheny Viburnum

Allegheny Viburnum
Viburnum rhytidophylloides ‘Allegheny’

Dense and upright with fragrant white spring flowers followed by showy red fruit. Partial to full sun. Fast to 10 ft. tall and wide. Semi-evergreen. Zone: 5 – 8

Chicago Lustre® Arrowwood

Chicago Lustre® Arrowwood
Viburnum dentatum ‘Synnestvedt’

Super hardy with white flowers followed by blue-black fruit songbirds adore. Partial shade to full sun. Fast up to 12 ft. tall and10 ft. wide. Deciduous. Zone: 3 – 9

Sparkler® Arrowwood Viburnum

Sparkler® Arrowwood Viburnum
Viburnum dentatum ‘SMVDE’ PP #28,092

Cultivar of N. American native, noted for fall foliage and berries. Partial shade to full sun. 15 ft. tall and wide. Deciduous. Zone: 4 – 9

FLOWERY BORDER

Korean Spice Viburnum

Korean Spice Viburnum
Viburnum carlesii

Has it all–fragrant flowers, bright berries, fall foliage. (Plant where you can enjoy scent.) Partial to full sun. Slow up to 6 ft. tall and wide. Deciduous. Zone: 4 – 8

Summer Snowflake Viburnum

Summer Snowflake Viburnum
Viburnum plicatum tomentosum ‘Summer Snowflake’

Magnificient tiered horizontal flowery branches. Partial to full sun. Up to 8 ft. tall and 10 ft. wide. Deciduous. Zone: 5 – 8

Winterthur Smooth Viburnum

Winterthur Smooth Viburnum
Viburnum nudum ‘Winterthur

Compact cultivar of native smooth viburnum, perfect for low, damp spots. Fragrant flowers! Partial to full sun. Up to 10 ft. tall, 6 ft. wide. Deciduous. Zone: 5 – 9

TRAFFIC-STOPPING SPECIMEN

Doublefile Viburnum

Doublefile Viburnum
Viburnum plicatum tomentosum ‘Mariesii’

Wedding cake like layers of flowery horizontal branches. Partial to full sun. Up to 8 ft. tall and wide. Deciduous. Zone: 5 – 8

Pink Dawn Viburnum

Pink Dawn Viburnum
Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Pink Dawn’

Best for a late winter, early spring blooming bonanza. Pink flowers and cinnamon-hued bark. Partial to full sun. Up to 10 ft. tall, 8 ft. wide. Deciduous. Zone: 5 – 8

Eastern Snowball

Eastern Snowball
Viburnum opulus ‘Sterile’

Everyone’s favorite! Masses of snowball-like flower clusters from top to bottom. Give it room. Partial to full sun. Up to 12 ft. tall, 10 ft. wide. Deciduous. Zone: 3 – 8

ONE-POT WONDER

Spring Bouquet Laurustinus

Spring Bouquet Laurustinus
Viburnum tinus ‘Compactum’

Lovely choice for warmer zones, compact size is useful for containers or borders. Fragrant flowers. Partial to full sun. Up to 6 ft. tall and wide. Evergreen. Zone: 7 – 11

Dwarf Cranberry Bush

Dwarf Cranberry Bush
Viburnum opulus ‘Nanum’

A pretty, dense mounding, small shrub to pot up and tuck into a bed or place on a shady patio. Partial to full sun. Up to 2 1/2 ft. tall and wide. Deciduous. Zone: 4 – 8

David Viburnum

David Viburnum
Viburnum davidii

This one’s for the birds! Plant two or more to ensure cross pollination and tons of berries. Partial to full sun. Up to 3 ft. tall and wide. Evergreen. Zone: 7 – 9

SPECTACULAR HEDGE

Chindo Sweet Viburnum

Chindo Sweet Viburnum
Viburnum awabuki ‘Chindo’

For a most unexpected, dense, glossy hedge. Fragrant late-spring flowers, fall berries. Partial to full sun. Up to 12 ft. tall and 8 ft. wide. Evergreen. Zone: 7 – 11

Burkwood Viburnum

Burkwood Viburnum
Viburnum x burkwoodii

Prized for its pinkish-white spring flowers, spicy-sweet fragrance and glossy foliage. Partial to full sun. Up to 12 ft. tall, 5 ft. wide. Evergreen to semi-evergreen. Zone: 5 – 8

Prague Viburnum

Prague Viburnum
Viburnum x pragense

Pink buds develop in early spring and open to lightly fragrant, creamy white flowers. Partial to full sun. Fast up to 10 ft. tall, 8 ft. wide. Evergreen. Zone: 5 – 8

Know It, Grow It!

  • Highly adaptable but thrives in organically rich, slightly acidic well-drained soils with consistent moisture.
  • Water deeply and regularly during the first growing season to establish an extensive root system; reduce frequency, once established.
  • Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring.
  • Pruning time: spring after flowering.
  • Avoid any potential fungal disease by providing good air circulation.
  • For the best fruit display, plant two or more of the same species. Most viburnums are self-incompatible, which means they need a little genetic variability to fruit well.

Love them? Buy them!

Previous Post  Next Post 
2018-02-28 01:34:00
Armen
We are currently looking for shrubs/bushes for a west facing side of our home. Size approx 3-4 w by 3-4 h.
reply Reply
Lela Grimes
These are beautiful. Are any of them deer resistant?
reply Reply
Lela Grimes
Are any of these deer resistant?
reply Reply
Alyce Dana
which would you recommend for South, zone 9 in full sun? I need a shrubs to replace 3 Camellias that needed filtered sunlight. want 8ft high and 8 ft wide.
reply Reply
Boo Young Lee
May I ask issues with grass? Several spots of rotten roots area, what is best cure?
reply Reply
Barb
Will any of these grow in middle Florida?
reply Reply
Gloria
Love this.
reply Reply
Diana A .Scott
Very disappointed in Monrovia . We purchased two Chindo Sweet Viburnum over 6 weeks ago. The plants were delivered in 1 week to Armstrong Nursery on La Palma in Anaheim We went to pick up the plants they did not look healthy . Rachel called Monrovia to have plants replaced. After two weeks and new deliveries made no replacement . Another person called about replacement another 2 weeks still no plants.My charge card has been cared for 117.plus change so Monrovia has been paid but we have no plants. This seems like poor business practice.
reply Reply
Diana A .Scott
Very disappointed in Monrovia . We purchased two Chindo Sweet Viburnum over 6 weeks ago. The plants were delivered in 1 week to Armstrong Nursery on La Palma in Anaheim We went to pick up the plants they did not look healthy . Rachel called Monrovia to have plants replaced. After two weeks and new deliveries made no replacement . Another person called about replacement another 2 weeks still no plants.My charge card has been cared for 117.plus change so Monrovia has been paid but we have no plants. This seems like poor business practice. This is the 1st. time I've written to Monrovia. Also, this is a new email address.
reply Reply
James Buckner
You might add information about what pollinators are attracted to which plants... Especially, if they are known to attract Honey Bees!
reply Reply
Mj dmith
Do you have leather leaf viburnum Thanjd Thanks
reply Reply
Angela winklet
I live in Bonners Ferry Idaho. Where can I purchase any of Monrovia viburniums in my area next spring? Thank you
reply Reply
Jane Gallick
What about Viburnum x ‘juddi’? Is it a good choice in zone 5?
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