Two new pix, viburnum fruit

My Viburnum nudum "Wintherthur" and "Earthshades" have reached that time of year when the fruit begins to dazzle. Here's a shot.


Scott

And for the first time both my x burkwoodiis are LOADED with fruit. "Chesapeake" is especially bountiful, and its fruit is now changing from red to jet black.

Scott

This message was edited Sep 26, 2006 7:31 PM

That first photo is tight!

I'll add that to my viburnum list!

Thanks much,

Dax

Scott,

Both plants look great! 'Chesapeake' is a fantastic plant where you can grow it. If you don't mind me picking your mind a bit? How would you describe the habit of both of your V. nudums? I'm trying to decide on a good pollinator to sell for 'Winterthur.' Conard-Pyle used to sell us one but they dropped service to the midwest. In all honesty, the plant that they sold as 'Pollinator' grew dramatically differently in form (upright) from 'Winterthur' so I hope the replacement will be a better fit. Plants that are sold as pairs are best if they look similar, at least in retail. I've seen 'Calloway Small Leaf' and it seems similar in habit. I found this to be the best looking of the bunch outside of 'Winterthur.' I'm not sure how commercially available it is. Also, it's from Georgia so how cold hardy can the thing be? It was doing well in its @3 year in KC, MO. Guess I need to buy one and try it out. Spring Meadow is selling one called 'Brandywine' but it seems to grow pretty upright also. Perhaps they bought C-P's plant. Ehh, anyway...... Thanks in advance for any info you can supply,

Ernie

I thought it was Monrovia that sold "Earthshades," but I've only seen it for sale once or twice. Nevertheless, it is virtually identical to "Winterthur" in every respect. It has served as a great pollinator however, and I have grown out hundreds of seedlings from the pair which, in my humble opinion, are superior to both parents. The leaves are awesome glossy and color up really well in the fall. None of my seedlings are mature yet, however, so flowering performance, fruit production, and ultimate form are unknowns. If you'd like a seedling, let me know. Also, I have not looked at Classic Viburnum's catalog this year, but they may offer a number of nudum cultivars.

There used to be a V. nudum cultivar called "Count Polaski", or something like that. This had been offered long before "Winterthur" made its appearance. I have never seen it, and I wonder what its special talents are. Once in a while, I've seen it listed in specialty catalogs.

Scott

Malusman--good work on trying to sell V. nudum complete with cross pollinators! Here in Chicago-land, it's row after row of 'Winterthur', left unsold as the nurseries pitch the attributes of the berries, but the plants themselves are berry-free due to no cross pollinators. I commend you for taking the time to learn about them, and promote them as they should be promoted. Who can resist having several of these after seeing them in fruit! I have a variety of cultivars, but none mature enough to judge on form vs. 'Winterthur'. Gary at Classic Viburnums sells liners of most of them. As Scott said, even seedlings are great plants. This is a pic from a group of seedlings here.

Here's a shot with my giant hand for reference--big flowers on these, making for huge clusters of berries.

Hello! A new codename for Decrepit -- Giant Hand!!! That's almost as good as Kneevin and Evilibrium and Mr. Pecanhead!
Hee-hee-hee!

Guy S.

Uh, Guy, look again. That was Kneevin's giant hand. Mine is quite normal. Very, very normal.

Scott

Aw, nuts!
I guess you'll have to stay Decrepout!

Scott: What are you doing letting Kevin fondle your berries? ;-)

- Brent

Great pictures, Decumbent.

Thanks to you and V V for getting word out about cross-pollinators. I would think it would benefit wholesalers to educate their retailers to educate the consumers, but somewhere along that line the message is being lost.

Kevin - great seedling(s)!

Ginkgos are doing well - just not dropping the petioles. Two weeks in two days -

Dax

I heartily second what NotGrnJeans said above -- THANK YOU for educating us about the need for cross-pollinators. I have learned so very much from y'all.

And Kevin, you know what they say about big hands ...

Carla

I thank you guys as well.

And Carla, I think I know the answer!!! They can palm basketballs??

Regards to you all,

Dax

Wow,

did this thread go downhill in a hurry?!! J/K. Being new to the group here I see I had better tread softly around Guy or else I'll have humorous nicknames. I've been meaning to hit him up for a tour of his place. Does anyone know how to butter him up?

Scott, thanks for the info on Earthshades. I'll have to see if Monrovia will have any available for spring. I have a crop of 'Winterthur' that will be needing some pollen next spring. If it isn't too much of a bother, I'd be happy to accept a 'Winterthur' seedling. BTW, the picture I posted was of 'Calloway Small Leaf.' I forgot to embed the text in the image.

Kevin- Great fruit! I remember the first time I saw it and knew that we had to sell it. 1st crop- well fruited, people walked right by them. I guess because of the need for two plants and 'Pollinator' was so different looking. Who knows? Got to keep pushing the plant.

Thanks again,
Ernie

malusman, you have d-mail........

Malusman,

Send me your address via D-mail. I'll add you to the list of V. nudum recipients.

Scott

Here's that x burkwoodii a few days later. It's like there's a switch that turns the fruit from red to black. I've never seen one in a state state of transition. It's like magic.

Scott

I just picked up a Judd Vib. today. How does the Judd compare to the Burkwood (using VV's f-ing list)?

I don't know if this will help because I haven't read it. But here's what I saved:

Dax

Viburnum Favorites List:

Back to Dax--I too am a sucker for the fragrance of many of the Viburnum. You can start quite early with V. farreri 'Candidissimum' or 'Nana', which are just about ready to bloom right now. The V. x burkwoodii and V. carlesii cultivars can string out the fragrance season for up to a month. I have my house encircled with every possible cultivar. If you are looking to feed the wildlife, enter the world of V. dentatum and the myriad of cultivars that bloom over a long period. We can steer you to cultivars that bloom close enough in sequence to maximize fruit production. The V. plicatum tomentosum group also fruits heavily in some cases, as does the V. dilatatum and related, as well as V. sieboldii. You can run up to Ridge Road Nursery, the home of V. sieboldii 'Wavecrest', and get one of the finest types(be sure to add another related type to maximize fruit production). V. lentago, V. prunifolium, V. cassinoides, V. nudum, and V. rufidulum are the natives that also produce abundant fruit. V. rhytidophllum, V. lantana, and the crosses all make lots of fruit. We need more info on what you are looking for to steer you in the right direction. Alternatively, you can take my and VV's approach and just own them all!

Dax: For fragrance near the home, follow my lead! Around my house are 'Mohawk', 'Chenaultii', 'Summer Hill', 'Aurora', Judd, 'Cayuga', carlesii compactum, 'Spiced Bouquet', 'Fullbrook', 'Sarcoxie', V. carlcephalum, 'Diana', and now several Classic Viburnum cultivars to add. Fruit production is actually quite good on these plants with all the cross pollination going on. I have changed my tune in that regard---you CAN have fruit and fragrance.

Large shrub/small tree types--V. prunifolium, V. lentago, V. rufidulum--plant these three together for cross pollination and large amounts of fruit. 'Summer Magic' is an excellent V. prunifolium cultivar--ask me again in a few years and I will have comments on more cultivars that show promise now. Along the same lines, V. sieboldii 'Wavecrest', 'Seneca', and 'Ironclad' can be planted together for a good show.

Smaller shrubs(can take wet)--V. cassinoides and V. nudum have massive fruit set with terrific berry colors. 'Winterthur' is one cultivar, but I have not seen it to be any better than the typical seedling. Great fall color with both.

Smaller V. dentatum for flowers and fruit--Papoose, Blue Blaze, Raspberry Tart, Little Joe(no fall color)

Large V. dentatum--the Klehm hybrids all bloom together and have wonderful fall color and fruit production--Cardinal, Red Regal, Crimson Tide, Indian Summer

V. dilatatum--all flower together, all produce ample fruit(so much so that they are looking to be invasive in the east).

V. plicatum tomentosum--a special shrub, perhaps the most beautiful in flower, and some are great fruit producers. Try Shoshoni or Newport for a shorter version, Shasta and Mariesii for larger types. Magic Puff is also one that is supposed to be smaller. Molly Schroeder is newer and has pink flowers that rebloom. I have tried to accumulate all these cultivars that I can find as I think they are just a fantastic plant.

V. lantana and related--there is a variegated V. lantana, as well as a yellow leaf version, both mildly interesting. I like the leatherleaf V. rhytidophyllum and V x rhytidophylloides where space is not an issue. They are whoppers, 15X15 is not odd, with massive flowering and fruiting to boot. Some say semi-evergreen, which for Zone 5 means crappy tattered leaves that last into January. Birds absolutely love these plants. Good nesting sites.

Viburnum dentatum var. deamii, one of the most glossy leaved plants around though similar in other respects to the rest of the arrowwoods. I'd throw a pitch in for Viburnum molle, too. That's the Kentucky viburnum with exfoliating bark but similar to arrowwood otherwise.

Viburnum nudum "Wintherthur" and "Earthshades"!!!! Fall Fruit is outstanding! (Dax Sept. 2006)

Okay, now we're in the (and this is technically the scientifically correct lexicon) "The berries are blue and the foliage is red stage," which is perhaps my favorite. To remind all, this is Viburnum nudum "Winterthur."

Scott