Plant Type:

Genus Overview: Viburnum

Common Name: Viburnum

This genus is full of fantastic, multi-season garden worthy shrubs. Spring flowers, often large and showy, many with heady sweet fragrance are arranged in cymes. 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; V. nudum 'Winterthur' and V. nudum var. angustifolium will cross with each other. But V. nudum is very closely allied with V. cassinoides and all of these will cross pollinate and provide late season fruit. Another interesting example is V. lantana which crosses with V. burejaeticum and vice versa. Any V. plicatum selection such as 'Shasta' will pollinate with all other V. plicatum selections. But if you were to plant two 'Shasta' side by side with no other V. plicatum in near proximity then your effort will be fruitless. The berries are magnificent and so welcome 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.