Viburnum suggestions?

Hi fellow Viburnum lovers,

This is probably not the best photo for showing this but in front and slightly to the right of the Metasequoia, between the blue Aquilegia and purple leafed Ligularia is a Blue Muffin Viburnum. As I stated in other threads, this is one viburnum I am disappointed with. I plan to remove this one and I would like any suggestions on what to replace it with. I want something that gets no bigger than five or six feet. A darker, possibly glossy green foliage would probably stand out niceley against the gold backdrop of the Ogon Dawn Redwood. I always like good flowering, fruiting and fall foliage (four F's). F number five, fragrance, is always welcome but since it will be sited in the middle of this bed, unless it can be appreciated from at least five or so feet away, it won't be important. This is an early Spring photo and there are a few neighbors you can't see in this photo. On either side of the viburnum, a bit downhill, are two hydrangea, both relatively small (4 feet) mophead types. Suggestions?? Thanks and Happy Holidays to all!

Regards,
Victor

Viburnum x 'Conoy'...

Here's a picture from January 2006.

Thanks VV. That is one that I was eyeing. My only reservation is the spread. Doesn't it get about 7 or more feet wide? Would it respond kindly to 'horizontal trimming'?

Oh, I was thinking you'd find no viburnum lovers here. I forgot about VV.

Scott

Scott:

I was out cross-pollinating as you typed...

VG:

Plants do grow. Plants can be pruned. Herbaceous plants can be moved.

You, as czar of all you oversee, must decide.

Wow - I feel so empowered! Thanks.

Any other possibilities, VV?? I have Blue Muffin in other areas that I would like to replace as well. Same attribute wish list, this time including fragrance for sure, since one area is walked by all the time. Thanks and happy holidays!

Victor

Kneevin must be on vacation, 'cause he'd have weighed in by now with some of his favorites. Oh, well...

You are northerly enough that the V. carlesii group performs well. The true dwarf in that realm is V. carlesii 'Compactum'. It won't fruit for you by itself; you'd need another related species or another clone. That means a bigger plant. Canvass your neighbors to see if they'd give up room for a fragrant viburnum (wink, wink) and double your fun in half the space. I'd vote for V. x 'Cayuga'.

I can't believe you want to rid yourself of every Blue Muffin™, but if so...see if you can lay your hands on some of the dwarfer V. dentatum selections, like Blue Blaze™, Raspberry Tart™, Papoose™, or Little Joe™. I suspect all these could be in the ballpark of your size constraints, or very easy to manage there.

A plant I've never grown (but Kneevin remarks on often) is V. farreri 'Nanum'. It's supposed to be little, compact, pinkish, and fragrant.

Thanks much. I want to move the Blue Muffins from conspicuous areas, not necessarily ditch them.

VV is right--I was gone. I'd never pass up such a thread as this. VV has given you great suggestions. The dwarf V. farreri is a good choice. New growth is a fine reddish color, and the leaves are dark green. It blooms way early here(March?), so you can miss the blooms if you and your garden are still hibernating. But, foliage is its claim to fame anyway. Don't forget the small V. plicatum like 'Newport'. Nice plant, large blooms, and fall color. I don't yet have 'Igloo', or 'Triumph', but I think they are supposed to be of the same ilk. I have some other more rare cultivars that I won't comment on until I see that they actually stay small. By the way, are you in Viburnum-beetle-land? Is that also a consideration?

Thanks Kevin. I will certainly check into those. I am always looking to add more small-ish viburnum anyway - separate from the Blue Muffin replacement. Wish I had more space! I love plicatum. Have you any experience with Pink Beauty? So far I have not had any problems with the beetles, though I believe they are known to be in the general area. Thanks again and keep any suggestions coming. Happy Holidays.

Regards,
Victor

I have what I bought as 'Pink Beauty'. It has been neither pink nor beauteous, but just another big honkin' doublefile viburnum. It does act as a cross-pollinator with the rest of its ilk.

If you don't have 'Catskill', this will get your V. dilatatum tribe started, unless you have invasive issues with linden viburnum. In that case, plant Emily litella.

As in 'Never Mind!' ?? I don't have Catskill but have Erie and Michael Dodge and have been eyeing Cardinal Candy.

Victor, LOL (just came out of lurking to laugh, I'll go now)

I thought I spotted someone in the shadows...

I'd go for 'Catskill' for its compactness (part of your original wish list).

'Iroquois' is a superior form, and on my noseprints on the window chart (resident cat rating system, for birdwatching), 'Asian Beauty' is the top of the heap in all aspects. Throw in Cardinal Candy™ if you have loose change to blow (I'm adding it to the Blue Muffin™ group).

VV, what do you mean you're adding Cardinal Candy to the Blue Muffin group? By the way, is the Blue Muffin Group that Vegas act avant garde Vegas act??

Souns like a good name for a jazz band. :>}