viburnum

Viburnum species encompass a diverse group of shrubs valued for their ornamental features and adaptability to various garden settings. With their attractive foliage, fragrant flowers, and sometimes colorful berries, they serve as versatile additions to landscapes. Viburnum carlesii, for instance, known as Korean Spice Viburnum, offers fragrant pink to white flowers in spring and glossy green leaves that turn shades of red and purple in fall. Its compact size makes it suitable for smaller gardens or as a focal point in mixed borders. Partnering well with other spring-flowering shrubs like lilacs or alongside early perennials such as bleeding hearts or hostas can create a harmonious and seasonally dynamic garden bed.

In addition, Viburnum dentatum, or Arrowwood Viburnum, presents creamy white flowers in late spring followed by blue-black berries in fall, providing ornamental interest throughout the growing season. Its upright form and adaptable nature make it suitable for hedges, screens, or as a specimen plant. Pairing it with other shrubs like Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet) or Ilex verticillata (Winterberry) can extend the seasonal interest and enhance the visual appeal of the landscape. Moreover, incorporating low-growing perennials such as asters or ornamental grasses at the base of Viburnum dentatum can add texture and ground cover, completing the composition with a balanced and cohesive design.

Height: 4′ – 18′

Width: 6′ – 10′

Watering and soil: Moist, well drained soil.

Exposure: Full sun is best.

Varieties: Viburnum carlesii, viburnum carlesii Spice Baby, Viburnum dentatum, Viburnum dentatum Blue muffin, Viburnum dentatum Autumn Jazz, Viburnum plicatum Opening Day, Viburnum plicatum Mariesii Doublefile, Viburnum trilobum Redwing, Viburnum opulus Sterile

Viburnum carlesii (Korean Spice Viburnum):
Height: 4′ – 6′
Width: 4′ – 6′
Exposure: Partial shade to full sun
Fragrant pink to white flowers in spring.
Glossy green leaves turning shades of red and purple in fall.
Tolerant of various soil types.

Viburnum carlesii ‘Spice Baby’:
Height: 2′ – 3′
Width: 2′ – 3′
Exposure: Partial shade to full sun
Dwarf cultivar suitable for small gardens or containers.
Retains similar characteristics to the species but smaller in size.

Viburnum dentatum (Arrowwood Viburnum):
Height: 6′ -10′
Width: 6′ – 10′
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Creamy white flowers in late spring to early summer.
Blue-black berries in fall, attracting birds.
Dark green foliage turning shades of red and purple in fall.

Viburnum dentatum ‘Blue Muffin’:
Height: 5′ – 7′
Width: 5′ – 7′
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Compact cultivar with blue-black berries.
Glossy green foliage.

Viburnum dentatum ‘Autumn Jazz’:
Height: 6′ – 8′
Width: 6′ – 8′
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Notable for vibrant fall foliage.

Viburnum plicatum (Japanese Snowball Viburnum):
Height: 8′ – 12′
Width: 8′ – 12′
Exposure: Partial shade to full sun
Horizontal branching habit.
White lacecap-like flowers in spring.
Dark green leaves turning red-purple in fall.

Viburnum plicatum ‘Opening Day’:
Height: 8′ – 10′
Width: 6′ – 8′
Exposure: Partial shade to full sun
Notable for early spring flowers.
Typically taller than wide.

Viburnum plicatum ‘Mariesii’ (Doublefile Viburnum):
Height: 6′ – 10′
Width: 6′ – 12′
Exposure: Partial shade to full sun
Horizontal branching with tiers of white flowers.
Dark green leaves turning red in fall.

Viburnum trilobum (American Cranberrybush Viburnum):
Height: 6′ – 12′
Width: 6′ – 12′
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Upright, rounded shrub.
White flowers in spring followed by red berries in fall.
Tolerant of wet soils.

Viburnum opulus ‘Sterile’ (European Snowball Viburnum):
Height: 8′ – 12′
Width: 8′ – 12′
Exposure: Partial shade to full sun
Deciduous shrub with large, round clusters of sterile white flowers.
Dark green leaves turning shades of red in fall.
Ornamental value in gardens and landscapes.Image: Viburnum lantana ‘Mohican’

See: Shrubs and Roses

Category: Sun Perennials – Sun Plants – Sunny Plants – Shrubs – Deciduous Shrubs – Viburnum near me