(Viburnum)

The diverse, often beautiful, shrubs and small trees in the genus Viburnum are some of the most beloved for landscape and garden. There are approximately 200 to 300 species with hundreds more varieties, subspecies and cultivated varieties. Most naturally occurring variants predominate over north temperate regions worldwide, but a few adjunct species can be found in the high altitude regions of Africa, South America and Southeast Asia. Favored habitats are forests, meadows and open woodlands....

(Maple-leaved Viburnum, Mapleleaf Arrowwood)

Named for its maple-like foliage that turns sunset tones in autumn, this small deciduous shade-loving shrub makes a great choice for woodland gardens in its native eastern North America.

Suckering to form loose thickets, the fuzzy brown stems are rather sparsely furnished with three-lobed, dark green leaves that resemble maple foliage. In late spring, flat-topped clusters of yellowish white flowers appear, attracting insects for pollination. The small red berries that ensue ripen to red in summer...

(Bodnant Viburnum)

Perfuming the winter garden with its clusters of pale pink flowers, this medium-sized to large deciduous shrub is a hybrid of the Asian natives Viburnum grandiflorum and V. farreri. Borne in dense domed heads, the small tubular flowers open from rose-pink buds from late fall to early spring in mild climates, and in late winter and early spring in colder regions. The spring flowers are often darker in shade than the fall blooms. Somewhat lanky when young, the upright plants...

(Bodnant Viburnum, Dawn Bodnant Viburnum)

Perfuming the winter garden with its clusters of pale pink flowers, this medium-sized to large deciduous shrub is a hybrid of the Asian natives Viburnum grandiflorum and V. farreri. Borne in dense domed heads, the small tubular flowers open from rose-pink pink buds from late fall to early spring in mild climates, and in late winter and early spring in colder regions. The spring flowers are often darker in shade than the fall blooms. Somewhat lanky when young, the upright...

(Bracted Arrowwood, Bracted Viburnum)

A close relative of arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum), this rare native of the southeastern United States (Georgia) is a useful medium-sized deciduous shrub amenable to many growing conditions and soil types. It has a dense upright habit and dark green, rounded, coarsely toothed leaves that turn bronze-yellow in fall. In spring it bears flattened clusters of creamy white flowers. If another viburnum is nearby, the flowers are followed by blue-black berry-like fruits that attract birds.

Grow...

(Bracted Arrowwood, Bracted Viburnum, Emerald Luster Viburnum)

A close relative of arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum), V. bracteatum is a useful and adaptable medium-sized deciduous shrub from a small area of the state of Georgia. The cultivar 'Emerald Luster' has especially glossy, rounded, coarsely toothed leaves paired on dense upright stems. The leaves turn bronze-yellow in fall. In spring it bears flattened clusters of creamy white flowers. If another viburnum is nearby, the flowers are followed by blue-black berry-like fruits that...

(Burkwood Viburnum)

Inheriting the spicily fragrant flower clusters of Korean spice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii) and the lustrous dark foliage of V. utile, this versatile, medium-sized, rather open shrub provides nearly year-round ornamental interest. Borne in tennis-ball-sized clusters, the light pink buds open to white tubular flowers in spring (or in late winter in mild climates), attracting bees and early butterflies. The flowers may be followed by a scattering of red berries that ripen...

(Burkwood Viburnum, Mohawk Viburnum)

Inheriting the spicily fragrant flower clusters of Korean spice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii) and the lustrous dark green foliage of V. utile, this versatile, medium-sized, rather open shrub is also distinguished by its colorful buds and brilliant fall color. Borne in tennis-ball-sized clusters, the bright rose-pink flower buds open to white tubular flowers in spring (or in late winter in mild climates), attracting bees and early butterflies. The flowers may be followed...

(Fragrant Snowball)

Deliciously fragrant, snowball-like flowers don the open branches of fragrant snowball in mid- to late spring. Upright to rounded in habit with rather open branching, this 1932 hybrid combines the ornamental qualities of its parents, Chinese snowball (Viburnum macrocephalum f. keteleeri) and the Korean spice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii).

The brown branches bear wide heart-like leaves that are medium green or darker, with a slight luster. Toward late spring, rounded clusters...

(Korean Spice Viburnum)

Fragrant and spring-flowering, Korean spice viburnum makes a great addition to the spring border. This large, upright to rounded deciduous shrub originates from Korea and Japan. It has soft, felty leaves of dark green that turn burgundy-red in fall. In mid-spring it produces many clusters of dark pink flower buds that open to creamy white, which produce an intoxicating fragrance that permeates the air.

This viburnum prefers full to part sun and acidic to average, well drained soil. It blooms...