Virburnum Dentatum -chicago Luster Viburnum
By B Hirst, Tue Jan 10th
One of my favorite vibirnums is the plant known VirburnumDentatum- The Chicago Luster Viburnum. Viburnums are the mostattractive, versatile, adaptable shrubs for any landscape. Theycan be used as hedges or screens and in mixed perennial andshrub borders. They can also stand as specimen plants. Theyusually in the form of shrubs, but can become small ornamentaltrees.(sieboldi) They range in size from the small DwarfAmerican Cranberry at 2 feet tall by 2 feet wide, to the Sieboldat over 15 feet tall.
Viburnums are plants with year round interest. Viburnums havewhite to pink flowers in the spring. Some are fragrant. Theyhave large, attractive and often textured leaves. Some viburnumshave wonderfully fragrant flowers that are produced in snowballlike clusters in the spring. The flower clusters can be of pinkbuds, which develop into white flowers. Some fruits are red andturn black with age. Leaves are glossy, dark green and turn aburgundy color in the fall. Midsummer berries are an importantfood source for birds. Viburnums are a must for the avid birder.Viburnums can have colorful red to purple leaves. Some viburnumscan become medium-size trees, especially if they are pruned.Viburnums are specimen plants or as anchors in mixed borders andhedges. You won't find a more versatile group of shrubs forhedges or for massing in groups, since viburnums hold their ownin every season and landscape. Some viburnums, such as Pragueviburnum, are evergreen and have fragrant flowers. Others, suchas leatherleaf viburnum, are semi-evergreen in colder climates,losing their leaves when temperatures dip below 10 degrees.
We like Viburnums because of their adaptability and durability.While they would prefer full sun and moderately watered,well-drained rich soils, they grow very well in part shade inalkaline, clay soils. Diseases and pests are not common forviburnums. We have more trouble from my kids running over themwith brush hogs. They claim they were testing their durability.Yet all the viburnums they chopped to the ground survived. Infact, we sold these plants for a premium as they produced betternumbers of desireable stems. Their fibrous root system makesthem transplant and propagate easily. (We do have moredifficulty with the Korean Spice rooted cuttings.)
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If you are shopping for a sharp hardy shrub consider one of themany cultivars of the Viburnum family. In fact select a coupleof them. You will be rewarded with shrubs with all seasoninterest.
Viburnums have long been popular garden plants, celebrated fortheir white, often fragrant spring flowers and their fall color.But it's the Asian viburnums that are prized. Perhaps the mostwidely known viburnums are the Burkwood viburnum (Viburnum xburkwoodii), and the Korean spice viburnum (V. carlesii), bothof which fill the air with an enchanting clovelike aroma inmid-spring. (The Mohican is a cross of the two.) Also popular isthe doublefile viburnum (V. plicatum f. tomentosum), valued forits layered habit, fall foliage, and clusters of red fruits, andits close relative the Shasta, a gold medal winner. Viburnumacerifolium (Maple-leafed viburnum) Although I wouldn't gardenwithout any of these, I have a special fondness for nativeviburnums. They may not provide the flower fragrance of theirAsian counterparts, but I love them for their fall foliage colorand for their fruit displays, which attract birds to my gardenin the fall and winter months. In addition, several are usefulto waterwise gardeners or in urban conditions. They require onlycorrective pruning, and none commonly suffer from pests ordiseases.
Viburnums are considered moist woodland plants. In nature theyare found along steam banks from Long Island to Florida. Whenyou come to our 5275 West Swamp Rd. location ask us to show somein their native habitat that we found along our stream bank.These plants perform well under normal landscape conditions. Iespecially like the floral display in the spring and theseviburnums that bear fruit in the fall. Winterthur has great redleaves and abundant fruit in the fall. This cultivar needs across pollinator such as viburnum nudum.
Native Americans used Viburnum dentatum (arrowwood viburnum) forarrow shafts. There stems are long and strait. This plant willgrow in places many plants struggle. So if you have had troublewith plants in a harsh location try this cultivar. Viburnums Weraise over 10 types of Viburnums on our farms from seedlings to5' shrubs. If you have poor soils due to compacting fromconstruction, try viburnums. Being rugged and hardy, theyperform where other plants fail. American Cranberry BushKoreanSpice Blackhaw ArrowwoodViburnum Chicago Luster (we have500 3-6' that must be sold by Sept 28 2005) Dawn SummerSnowflake Shasta Winterthur Blue Muffin Burkwood Erie Tea JuddKorean Spice Praque Siebold If you come to our Nursery I wouldbe pleased to show you these plants in the nursery and wherethey are going native in the area on a stream bank in PeaceValley Park. You can see my other web sites athttp://www.seedlingsrus.com http://www.zone5trees.comhttp://www.highlandhillfarm.com and http://www.huntingrelics.com
About the author:Bill has been raising Nursery stock on 200 acres in Doylestown.He raises over 10 varieties of viburnums
