I think I can honestly say I have never met a Viburnum I didn't like - they come from a good family, always look neat and tidy, often smell good and don't crave constant attention. This genus of evergreen and deciduous shrubs are great background performers and should not be overlooked when planning a new garden or refurbishing an existing planting scheme.

Viburnums are tolerant of just about any soil but they are happiest in a rich humus that does not completely dry out in summer. If you choose carefully you can have Viburnums in flower from winter through to the end of summer. The flowers are often sweetly scented and are followed by very attractive ornamental berries. The deciduous varieties have excellent autumn leaf colour. Viburnums can be kept tidy by cutting back any straggly older shoots after flowering. You won't find this an arduous task and if you decide not to do it your Viburnum will still perform well for you.  

Most are frost hardy with the exception of Viburnum odoratissimum "Emerald Lustre" which will only tolerate a light frost. If you do have a frost free area this is a wonderful plant to add a lush tropical look as it has large rounded glossy green foliage with a hint of bronze. Some Viburnums are prone to attack from Thrip in summer, especially Viburnum tinus varieties such as "Eve Price" and "Gwenllian" but this is easily controlled (see care instructions on Rhododendron page) and should not detract from their overall value.  

A beautiful hybrid with richly fragrant waxy white flowers opening from pink tinged buds borne profusely during spring. Semi-evergreen. Very hardy for sun or light shade on a moisture retentive fertile soil.

 

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aka Viburnum

The main feature of this lovely shrub is the tight clusters of white flowers which open from pink buds from winter through to spring. The fragrance is delicious and reminiscent of soft baby powder. Mmm! The foliage is dark green above and slightly felted underneath. Semi-evergreen.

 

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aka aka Koreanspice Viburnum

A medium sized shrub with a rounded habit, Leaves are oval down and dull green in colour often colouring in the autumn. Rounded clusters of pure white flowers that are pink in the bud open emitting a strong daphne like fragrance in early spring.

 

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aka David Viburnum

This little shrub forms a wide-spreading compact mound. The dark green leathery leaves that have a pale under-side. Small creamy white flowers in spring are followed by beautiful blue berries that hold through winter and they are really the main feature. Needs male company to produce berries. Evergreen.

 

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aka David Viburnum

The male form of this little shrub is usually planted for one reason - to pollinate the female form so she will produce berries. On its own it forms a wide-spreading compact mound with dark green leathery leaves that have a pale under-side. Small creamy white flowers in spring. Evergreen.

For harmony in the garden it is usually recommended that one male Viburnum davidii be planted for every 3 females - not something we suggest you try at home folks.

 

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aka Sweet viburnum

This sweet Viburnum has a higher density than other sweet Viburnum. Beautifully fragrant white flowers in spring, red tinted new growth and reaching a good 2.5m high by 2m wide reasonably quickly. Full sun, drought and light frost tolerance once established. 1-2 plants per meter. Evergreen

 

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aka Viburnum

Globular balls of delicious creamy tubular flowers with just a gentle flush of pink decorate this shrub in spring. The flowers are fragrant and followed by red berries. Handsome dark green leathery foliage with tones of red in autumn. Plant in sun or semi-shade. Hardy. Semi-evergreen.

Depending on the severity of your winter climate this delightful shrub will be fully deciduous or semi-evergreen.

 

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aka Viburnum

A compact shrub with quite coarse green foliage, carmine red buds appear in late winter and open to white blooms tinged pink. Flowers are lightly perfumed and followed by dark blue berries. Easy to grow in sun or light shade. Responds well to pruning. Evergreen.

 

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A beautiful, spreading, deciduous shrub that produces rounded pink flower buds that open up to a display of lightly scented, creamy-white, tinged pink flowers in late Spring, early Summer. A hardy shrub that likes full sun or part shade. Prune when they are Winter dormant for shape and size.

 

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aka Viburnum

A compact shrub with quite coarse green foliage, carmine pink buds appear in late winter and open to white blooms tinged pink. Flowers are lightly perfumed and followed by dark blue berries. Easy to grow in sun or light shade. Responds well to pruning. Evergreen. RHS AGM.