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Viburnum dilatatum ''Catskill''

Linden Viburnum

Plant Type:

DECIDUOUS SHRUBS

Viburnum dilatatum 'Catskill' - A shorter form of Linden Viburnum.'Catskill' only grows approximately 5 feet tall by 8 feet wide. This lower grower, a big cushy green pillow, is cloaked with somewhat smaller leaves as compared with other V. dilatatum selections. But the foliage picks up all the great autumn colors that its bigger brothers display which can be red, gold or orange often with the multiple colors all at once. Occasional dark purple shades may manifest in some years. Plates of white flowers exude a musky scent. From these develop opulent dark red fruits which begin to color up in August. Gary Ladman tells us that 'Catskill' produces greater numbers of berries than other cultivars. Berries are as persistent as other V. dilatatum selections and appear to require bletting before becoming of interest to the birds. We have a number of species of songbirds that visit our collection of Linden Viburnum beginning in January and continue to feast into February, one of the very welcome, heart warming sights during this oft bleak time in the circadian rhythm. Introduced by the U.S. National Arboretum in 1966 'Catskill' is a selection from a batch of fostered seedlings, the seed having come from Japan. Full to mostly sunny exposure planted in fertile, draining soil. Established potted shrub from cutting.


Height:

5 ft

Spread:

8 ft

Colors:

White

Zone:

5 to 8
What is my hardiness zone?

Characteristics and Attributes for Viburnum dilatatum ''Catskill''

Season of Interest (Flowering)

  • Spring

Season of Interest (Foliage)

  • Spring / Summer / Autumn

Autumn Interest

  • Fruit / Berries / Seed Heads
  • Autumn Leaf Color

Nature Attraction

  • Deer Resistant
  • Honey Bees & Native Bees
  • Butterflies
  • Songbirds

Light

  • Full Sun
  • Mostly Sunny

Attributes

  • Shrub Border
  • Border
  • Hedgerow
  • Specimen
  • Foundation
  • Wildlife Garden

Growth Rate in the Garden

  • Medium

Soil

  • Draining
  • Fertile

Origins

  • Garden Origin

Propagated By

  • Cutting Grown

Genus Overview: Viburnum

Common Name: Viburnum

Viburnum. This genus is full of fantastic, multi-season garden worthy shrubs. Garden heroes. Spring flowers, often large and showy, many with heady sweet fragrance are arranged in cymes. Some smell of musk (Viburnum dilatatum) while others produce no fragrance at all. Flowers are followed with berries. If late season and autumn berries are desired then planting two of a species will ensure fruit set; for instance, Viburnum dilatatum 'Erie' and V. dilatatum 'Michael Dodge' will pollinate each other and produce fruit. Viburnum cassinoides is closely allied with V. nudum; but if the flowering times do not overlap then there will be no fruit. However, if you plant V. nudum 'Winterthur' in proximity with V. nudum var. angustifolium, 'Longwood', 'Moonshine' or 'Pink Beauty' berries will abound. Another interesting example is V. lantana which crosses with V. burejaeticum and vice versa. Any V. plicatum f. tomentosum selection such as 'Shasta' or 'Shoshoni' will pollinate with all other V. plicatum f. tomentosum selections like 'Copper Ridges or 'Pink Beauty'. But if you were to plant two 'Shasta' side by side with no other V. plicatum f. tomentosum in near proximity then your effort will be fruitless. As with almost all in the universe of plants there are exceptions. There is one viburnum which appears to be self-fruitful, Viburnum setigerum the Tea Viburnum. Another interesting exception to the rule is Viburnum nudum 'Pink Beauty' which is also self-fruitful - a departure from its siblings. And on the other spectrum are two I can think of off-hand that are barren, Viburnum plicatum 'Roseum' and Viburnum plicatum 'Kern's Pink'. Oftentimes, the dwarf viburnums reamin in a juvenile state and do not produce fruit. All Viburnum of any size that do produce fruit are magnificent in the late season garden. And they feed all manner of birds. Larger, denser shrubs provide cover and nesting opportunities. Nearly all Viburnum have terrific autumn foliage colors, too. Viburnums are members of Caprifoliaceae. All prefer part to full sun and fertile soils. All are cutting grown. Many thanks to Gary Ladman of Classic Viburnums who generously set us straight regarding some of the details we had originally incorrectly lauded... ya can't know everything!