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shrub

Fragrant Viburnum

Viburnum x carlcephalum

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Fragrant Viburnum (Viburnum x carlcephalum) at Glasshouse Nursery

Fragrant Viburnum flowers

Fragrant Viburnum flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Fragrant Viburnum (Viburnum x carlcephalum) at Glasshouse Nursery

Fragrant Viburnum in bloom

Fragrant Viburnum in bloom

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Fragrant Viburnum (Viburnum x carlcephalum) at Glasshouse Nursery

Fragrant Viburnum flowers

Fragrant Viburnum flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  8 feet

Spread:  7 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  6a

Description:

A spectacularly fragrant garden shrub, featuring intoxicating ball-shaped clusters of pinkish-white flowers in spring, plant where the fragrance can be enjoyed, a loose and open plant; ideal for the shrub border or in masses

Ornamental Features

Fragrant Viburnum features showy balls of fragrant white flowers at the ends of the branches in early spring, which emerge from distinctive pink flower buds before the leaves. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The round leaves turn an outstanding deep purple in the fall. The black fruits are held in clusters from late summer to late winter.

Landscape Attributes

Fragrant Viburnum is an open multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Fragrant Viburnum is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Accent
  • Mass Planting
  • Hedges/Screening
  • General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Fragrant Viburnum will grow to be about 8 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 7 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Accent  Massing  Screening  Garden 
Applications
Flowers  Fruit  Fall Color  Attracts Wildlife 
Ornamental Features