Garden plant: Viburnum

Whether you’re looking for evergreen structure, winter colour or beautiful flowers, there’s a viburnum to suit your needs. This large group of plants includes evergreen and deciduous shrubs, some with scented winter flowers and others blooming in summer. They’re easy to grow and care for and great for wildlife. Here are three of our favourite viburnums.

Viburnum tinus (Laurustinus)

Viburnum tinus is a large evergreen shrub that flowers in winter, producing clusters of tiny, lightly scented flowers. These are followed by berries which are a popular food source for birds. Viburnum tinus provides good evergreen structure all year and can be trimmed to shape.

Plant in sun or light shade, in moist, well-drained soil. Trim in early summer to maintain a neat shape.

Popular Viburnum tinus varieties

• Viburnum tinus ‘Eve Price’ AGM produces clusters of pinkish-white flowers followed by blue-black berries. 3m x 3m (10ft x 10ft)
• Viburnum tinus ‘Lisarose’ has white flowers which open from bright red buds, providing a dash of winter colour. 3m x 3m (10ft x 10ft)
• Viburnum tinus ‘French White’ produces clusters of gleaming white flowers that look great against the dark green foliage, followed by blue-black berries. 3m x 3m (10ft x 10ft)

Viburnum x bodnantense (Arrowwood)

Viburnum x bodnantense is a deciduous winter-flowering shrub. Its large, leathery leaves turn vibrant red and orange in autumn, and it’s renowned for the clusters of sweetly scented pink flowers that appear in on bare branches in winter. Put a few flowering stems in a vase to fill a room with fragrance.

Viburnum x bodnantense grows in full sun or partial shade, in moist, well-drained soil. Prune in spring after flowering has finished to keep it to size.

Popular Viburnum x bodnantense varieties

• Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’ AGM - clusters of dark pink flowers 3m x 2m (10ft x 6.5ft)
• Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Charles Lamont’ AGM – brighter pink flowers 3m x 2m (10ft x 6.5ft)

Viburnum opulus (Guelder rose)

Viburnum opulus is a native deciduous shrub with large maple-like leaves. It flowers in late spring, producing dainty white lace-cap flowers, followed by sprays of orange berries that are very popular with birds. The leaves take on purple tints in autumn. 

Viburnum opulus will grow in full sun or partial shade, in a fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Prune after flowering, cutting one in every five old stems down to the base to promote new growth.

Popular Viburnum opulus varieties:

• Viburnum opulus ‘Roseum’ produces big round ‘snowball’ white flowers in May. The flowers are spectacular but sterile, so are not followed by berries.  5m x 5m
• Viburnum opulus ‘Compactum’ is a more compact variety, ideal for smaller gardens. It produces white lace-cap flowers in May, followed by red berries in autumn. 1.5m x 1.5m (5ft x 5ft)

Now’s a great time to plant shrubs and trees, so visit our centre to see our great range of viburnums and other shrubs. Get your garden ready for springtime and prepare your garden for a sunny summer.