Viburnums for fragrance

Where to begin? Most people (who don't immerse themselves in all things viburnum) hear viburnum and think of the sweet bouquet of the early spring flowers. Not bad, at that. Korean spice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii) and its allies are the owners of the fine reputation for fragrance.

Starting with a list, here's what I'm familiar with in the humid Ohio River valley region (zone 5/6 depending on who you believe) that most would say are sweet/spicy smelling:

Viburnum carlesii and named clones
V. x burkwoodii (V. carlesii x V. utile) and named clones
V. x burkwoodii 'Mohawk' (V. x burkwoodii x V. carlesii)
V. x juddii (V. carlesii x V. bitchiuense)
V. x carlcephalum (V. carlesii x V. macrocephalum f. keteleeri)
V. x 'Cayuga' (V. carlesii x V. x carlcephalum)
V. farreri
V. x bodnantense (V. farreri x V. grandiflorum) and clones

Here are a few more that are very very lightly fragrant (you have to put your nose right in them):

V. utile
V. x 'Chesapeake' (V. x 'Cayuga' x V. utile)
V. x 'Conoy' (V. utile x V. x burkwoodii 'Park Farm Hybrid')
V. x pragense (V. rhytidophyllum x V. utile)
V. cassinoides and clones
V. sieboldii and clones

This picture shows (left to right) V. x juddii; V. x 'Cayuga'; and the non-fragrant V. x 'Eskimo'.

This message was edited Jan 15, 2006 6:12 PM

"V. sieboldii and clones"
-----------
Fragrant like Ginkgo maybe!

Guy S.

Guy, you have to get up from your bed of Quercus catkins in order to properly appreciate the scent of the more lowly genera.

I have two clones of V. sieboldii: Seneca and Ironclad. I have personally partaken of their perfume, and they bear no resemblance to V. dentatum and V. dilatatum flowers which have variously been described as having characteristics of dirty socks, dog breath, and some other unmentionable reproductive substances (as claimed by some veterinary friends).

I make my olfactory forays as the individual flowers are just opening, on fine sunny spring mornings. It could very well be that the quality diminishes as the flowers age. It could also be that you haven't had your

Viburnum
Appreciation
Card
Useful to
Umbrageous
Men

renewed. See Kevin, myself, David (MI), Gary (NE) or Gene Coffman for current standards of membership.

As with any subjective matter, though, your results may vary.

There's nothing finer in the whole universe than the fragrance of V. x juddii! Just one man's opinion. Hey, what's this VACUUM thing? Why wasn't I invited?

My V. plicatum tomentosum "Summer Snowflake," smells repulsive. Not the flowers, the plant itself. I find this very odd. I try to keep my more "refined" dinner guests away from it.

Scott

John, I really do like Viburnums, although they only rank somewhere near the middle of my "list" and I therefore probably would not be invited to join the Vacuum Society!

Regarding V. sieboldii, I was refering to the leaves and bruised twigs. Mine is growing in tree form and is so tall that I never get close enough to smell the flowers, even at my 6'-6" height. But crunching the foliage releases an odor that could be used as a WMD.

Come up here sometime and I'll show you our state champion V. prunifolium!

Guy S.

My experience with V. cassinoides is that they smell rather musty...not a flower I'd want to saddle up to. However, I do like the plant itself...from a distance.

OK, Guy, using Viburnums and rank in the same sentence tells ME the true story.

I understand your point on Viburnum sieboldii now. The crushed foliage (to me, and others) smells exactly like green peppers. Try it yourself this coming season; I find it unmistakeable. V. x b. 'Dawn' foliage also falls into this category, for my nose. Is there an RHS "scratch-n-sniff" chart for categorizing? Hmmm, maybe a cottage industry opportunity.......

There could be some touring in my near future to the frigid upper midwest, and elsewhere. I'd sure like to see Starhill Forest Arboretum in person instead of just cybersalivation. To remain true to form, I may be on crutches again. A big old viburnum (even small ones I haven't met before) would be right up my (v)alley.

Scott: humble apologies from a decumbent position, though that's why I'm having knee surgery. Having crossed over out of the darkness, I haven't been good at remembering participants here. You would rank as a senior VACUUM officer, if not on the executive board. Your V. nudum 'BBB' seedlings are still gangbusters. If they flower this year, expect some named offspring (you rogue!) from your genetic material.

Todd: I'd appreciate a good list of what viburnums you've found to perform/survive in NF. Got to be slightly different than the experience here in the Ohio River valley. I will be updating the olfactory oracle in 2006, and see if my opinions have changed. I did put V. cassinoides and V. sieboldii at the bottom for a reason.

I see you have more than a passing interest in Acer; have you found any of them remarkable for fragrance? If memory serves, Acer tataricum is the only one I've noted with significance. I have several A. tataricum 'Red Wing' around which flower prolifically annually, and sure are noticeable when in full regalia.

My $.02: V. dilatatum are the worst smelling of the bunch I have (see above), but were the originals in my collection (Asian Beauty, now 15 years ensconced) due to overwhelming fruit display and all-around presence. Go figure.

Our list of reliable Viburnums would be comparable to yours in Kentucky seeing as we are both zone 5b. However, the bloming seasons would be dramatically differerent. Our burkwoods don't bloom until mid to late June. V. X bodnantense bloom in late April-early May (although with this mild winter they are showing pink alrerady)

Here is a list of the Viburnums I know are growing in St. John's, Newfoundland:

V. acerifolium
V. betulifolium
V. X bodnantense
V. carlesii
V. x burkwoodii cultivars
V. x carlcephalum
V. cassinoides
V. dentatum
V. davidii (believe it or not a friend has had it for 5 years with no problems!)
V. dilatatum
V. edule
V. farreri
V. X juddii
V. lantana
V. lantanoides
V. lentago
V. opulus (including trilobum)
V. plicatum
V. X pragense
V. prunifolium
V. X rhytidophylloides
V. sargentii
V. sieboldii


As you can see, evergreen ones don't make it here...too windy in winter (except the V. davidii, which, I must admit, is growing in a very sheltered garden).

In regards to maples, I can't say I ever thought to put my nose next to one..I assumed they were not fragrant as such.

Todd

John, too much football! Those knees have been hobbling you ever since I met you!

You're welcome here anytime, but the best times probably are May and October if you have a choice. We can throw you and your bad knees into the back of the ATV and run you around the place.

As for green peppers, I guess noses differ. I still say I prefer the smell of ginkgo to that of V.s. -- although I would never remove my beautiful V.s. tree because of that.

Guy S.

I do grow a few viburnums, not as many as you collectors do. In my yard V. juddi is probably my most noticeable fragrant one. I planted V. burkwoodi close to my deck but have never been happy with it's performance, guess it is not reliably hardy for this area. After our very different fall and winter, and my severe pruning because of its location, it has surprisinly lots of buds. go figure.

Think I better go eat a bite of breakfast, making too many typing errors.

Donna