It's that time of year, as they are just starting to open here. There is one standout amongst all the cultivars I grow, and that is V. carlesii 'Spiced Bouquet'. I was a day or two late taking this picture, so you missed the dark red buds. The buds are now getting close to opening, so they have lightened up a bit. The leaves are a glossy green, the flowers smell wonderful, and the fall color is a nice red. What more can you ask for?
Not much!
Compare that glossy leaf to these leaves on 'Cayuga', which get dulled down with its V. x carlcephalum blood.
This message was edited Apr 20, 2006 2:17 PM
This one has excellent leaves, glossy green, but flower buds are yellowish white. Same excellent fragrance though. This is 'Summer Hill'.
This is double bloodroot--I threw it in because its cool!
Another one for good red buds(even on this small one) is V. x juddii. The leaves lack sheen though
How does Judd get dull leaves? From it's momma! Here is V. bitchiuense
'Aurora' is another good one for red buds and good fragrance.
Finally, the little workhorse V. carlesii 'Compactum' which should be a part of every landscape! Here it is showered in spent magnolia petals.
Hmmm, just when I thought you couldn't come up with anything better than a fragrant Viburnum... you post a photo of a double bloodroot.
What more could anyone ask for? Well, how about one of each? Taken from your garden of course. What was the one you had me smell when we were there? I bought a judd today. I can't wait for it to grow up. Had a visitor today and she wanted a tour of the garden....that's a viburnum, that's a viburnum, oh and that there is a viburnum...after awhile, she said she was noticing a pattern. Ya think??
Terry--you got a whiff of V. carlesii 'Susan Renae', a selection made by Gary Ladman in honor of his wife.
Ah yes! I can still smell that plant. You should have just let me have it :o)
What pollinates the judd I bought?
Any of those listed above, or any V. x burkwoodii. I used to think that fruit was a non-issue with the fragrant types, but as I accumulated more of them, and cross pollination did its trick, more and more fruit is being produced. Just a little side benefit, though not the #1 attribute of the fragrant types.
Can anyone comment of the fragrance of Manchurian Viburnum (Viburnum burejaeticum)? Oikos reports it as being fragrant and others report it being similar to Korean Spice. The MSUE site says it's very cold hardy and drought tolerant. That's the plant I'm looking for!
I can't remember sniffing on mine--it is loaded with flower buds though--I'll let you know when they open up.
Wow! That's some collection you've got there Kevin. I'm getting a Viburnum jones just looking at all your wonderful snaps. Thanks for sharing.
I have none of the ones listed above (cept' Judd of course). I guess I need to go shopping again. Which one is your personal favorite Kevin? They all have the overlapping bloom times that will work for pollination?
Thanks for posting all those great pics. We are just starting to appreciate the Viburnums, Shasta is in full display now, I will have to check for smell, tho. LOL
