Can someone send me a photo of their blooming viburnum

I have never seen a viburnum and I notice lots of discussion about them. Can someone post a photo for me, please.

Which one? I have about 120 different species and cultivars. Ask Guy--he suffered through about 20 of them until he started seizuring and mumbling, and then I just skipped over them and pointed out another of those oaky thingamajiggies. I will post a few to get things started, and VV can jump in as well. Here is Viburnum plicatum tomentosum 'Shoshoni'

...or Viburnum plicatum 'Popcorn'

Is Viburnum and hydrangea the same because "Popcorn" looks like hydrangea?

...or Viburnum prunifolium 'Summer Magic' with V. sieboldii 'Wavecrest' blooming in the background.

Not the same LOL, but there are snowball type flowers and lacecap type flowers in many of them.

These are all gorgeous. I wonder if they grow in my part of the world. I have not seen them in New Orleans or southern Louisiana.

there are even pink forms like V. plicatum tomentosum 'Molly Schroeder'

I don't recommend growing Viburnum plicatum in the deep south. I have one that I have to constantly water or it wilts in our heat. You'd might have better luck with Blackhaw or Sweet Viburnum, although the flowers are not quite as showy.

You can grow them, just be prepared to pamper them like mophead hydrangeas.

Living where you do LOL, there are a vast array of tropical types that would thrive. These are the ones I can't even hope to grow like Viburnum propinquum(one I wish I could grow here)
http://www.q-gardens.org/c_gardensea04_3.htm

or Viburnum luzonicum, V. tinus, V. japonicum, V. davidii, etc.

Take a look at the offerings at www.wwoodlanders.net under Viburnum for southern adapted types like V. ashei, V. atrocyaneum, V. awabuki 'Chindo', V. cinnamomifolium, V. foetidum var rectangulatum, V. harryanum(John's favorite), V. obovatum, and V. odoratissimum. All those should grow for you. Do a Google image search on them to see if they appeal to you and order up the ones you like! Viburnumaholicism should not be confined to the North!

This message was edited Jul 17, 2006 9:38 PM

Actually, I would be quite proud to know anyone who actually grew Viburnum harryanum--I nominate you to be our Southern representative.

"Medium sized evergreen dense shrub, with neat orbicular dark green leaves, making a tidy rounded bush. Bearing white flowers in late spring, followed by ovoid black fruit. Full sun-shade any fertile soil."

And, how do viburnum flowers hold up as cut flowers? Can they be used in flower arrangements?

Are they better planted in the fall or spring? I'm WAY north of LOL, but I was wanting to plant a couple.

V. odoratissimum is always available at Lowe's and HomeDepot in Mobile & P'cola. They should be available over there in New Orleans also. They are mostly sold as evergreen screening plants, although the flowers are fragrant in the spring.

McGlory:

I'm jealous of you and your proximity to Classic Viburnums in Upland, NE. Kevin can also vouch for the length and breadth of viburnums they grow, as well as the upstanding character of Gary/Susan, proprietors. I'd defer to their advice on planting times for NE.

Kevin:

Can't believe you let LOL by with the straight line. Hydrangeas are one-season viburnum wannabes.

LOL:

I think there's a song from Guy's era that goes, "Everything you can do, I can do better..." Consider the fruit set on Hydrangea. Remember the last time people tripped over themselves trying to determine the source of fragrance wafting from an unseen Hydrangea ? I can count on one hand the range of fall colors in Hydrangea.

Only the individual gardener can decide how many/which kind/etc. when it comes to viburnums. Consider the list.

**fragrance
**flowers (and what color)
**foliage (evergreen or deciduous)
**fall color (and what color)
**fruit (and what color)
**form (tall, short, fat, etc.)
**frequency (long bloom time or short; long fruiting or not; long fall color or not)

OK, not the best at off-color humor but you get the point. Lots there to choose from, and for each there is a trade off. Few viburnums (much less any plant) do everything, but most are stellar at one or another, and a some do several very well. You categorize which aspects are most important, and then go from there.

Most of the southern contingent have weighed in here, but I think a few species haven't been mentioned (a perusal of LA native plants may yield some appropriate plants, too). If you look into the introduced species, evaluate them for tolerance to heat/humidity which you allegedly have some of there in the NO area.

•Viburnum rufidulum Southern or rusty blackhaw
•Viburnum dentatum Arrowwood group, including maybe V. rafinesquianum or V. bracteatum
•Viburnum nudum Possumhaw viburnum

Here's John's real favorite: Viburnum prunifolium Bourbon Barrel™ elbowing aside the slovenly 'Popcorn' and a run-of-the-mill blackhaw seedling.

The description of V. harryanum Kevin provided doesn't mention flower fragrance. I'm guessing it slides more towards dentatum rather than carlesii. Would it make John's list for fragrance? There's so much to learn about Viburnums. ;)

I admire people who are so knowledgeable about certain species and know all the botanical names and the characteristics of each.
I do a lot of flower arranging, especially for the New Orleans Museum of Art on a volunteer basis and am always looking for new flowers to use since so many people view the urns every day. How does a viburnum flower hold up after being cut from the bush/tree?

Any recommendations for a blue lace cap for zone 5? Never Mind, I was intending to post for a hydrangea.

This message was edited Jul 18, 2006 1:13 PM

Help, I have a question about my Viburnum awabuki 'Chindo'. They have been in the ground for two full seasons and are growing beautifully for me, however they have never flowered nor produced berries. Is it at all possible that they simply need time to become established? They are in a part sun / high shade situation. Some of the reasons why I decided to go with them was because of their flowers, fragrance and berries. Shall I cross my fingers and wait, or do I need to think about finding a pollinator?

I purchased them via a mail order nursery about two years ago. I'd have thought that if I needed a male and female they would have either sent me both or at least raised the question...

I don't have a close up photo of them handy, but you can see two of them between the two Oak trees in the center of this shot.