Viburnum

About two weeks ago, I planted a large viburnum. The purchased plant was very green and healthy. The plant was kept in the nursery greenhouse. Immediately after planting we had a very cold snap (20s, low 30s) for zone 7b/8a. The plant now has some browning around leaf edges, especially new growth and a lot of reddening to mature leaves, they still seem green on the undersides. It does appear droopy or dying, but I was not expecting the coloration change. I think the browning is just transplant issues and will clear up as weather warms. I am concerned about the reddening. I am quite certain the plant gets much more sun than in the nursery...although it is not exactly full sun. Once the neighbor's trees fully leaf out for summer, it will get probably half sun, half shade. Should I worry?

The reddening that you're seeing is most likely damage from the cold--it's possible it may stay this color, or it's possible that the leaves that look reddish now will eventually turn brown and die depending on how much they were damaged. I would leave it alone for now, most likely the plant was damaged a bit by the cold but will come back just fine in the spring. Whatever you do, don't prune off any dead looking parts yet, pruning will stimulate new growth which can be damaged if you get any more cold weather. But be prepared for the plant to look look worse before it starts to look better--we had some unusually cold weather this winter too, and I had a number of plants that still looked OK just after the cold snap ended, but a few weeks later they started showing delayed signs of damage. So don't panic if this happens, assuming the viburnum is one that is reliably hardy in your zone I think it'll come back for you when the weather warms up, just be patient until the cold weather is over and you start to see new growth, then prune out anything that looks dead.

It is supposed to be hardy. It is a relatively large investment. I spent some money on 2-3 plants to give a little perceived maturity to a new garden. I appreciate your help. I am not big into pruning anyway. I seem to like a bit of an unkempt look...in the garden and especially with my hair.

Oops. I read my own message. It should have said it does NOT appear droopy or dying.

That kinda changes the whole meaning.

Based on the context, I had assumed you meant to include "not", so my comments still hold!

Just a thought - there's a poster on the Trees and Shrubs forum that knows a great deal about Viburnums. You may wish to consider thinking about posting on that forum. He goes by "Viburnum Valley." He knows his stuff. Good Gardening.

Thats the problem with nurseries that force their shrubs in greenhouses. The plants look good for sales, but they aren't hardened off for early planting. Your shrub should be okay. Viburnums will grow where I am ( in southern Ontario) and they can handle a bit of a frost. If there was any new growth it may die back.

We have warmed up tremendously to 70ish the last two days. The new grow has turned brown around the edges, but the plant doesn't look too bad. It appears to me that some of the discoloration has actually lessened. Thanks to all. I think we made it through our first vibu-crisis.

My viburnham leaves turn reddish brown in cold weather. I had them planted especially to bring color to my winter garden and to provide berries for the birds. Everything in my gardens are nature friendly.

70 degrees??? WOW!!!!! todays high for us is a balmy 35degrees. Getting out the shovel... (SNOW SHOVEL!) It was just a white out, then not 2 mins. later... sunny. Needless to say, No planting for me. (except the indoor variety)

This message was edited Mar 2, 2007 10:54 AM

Ecrane,

Read your comment about not pruning the viburnum at this time of the year because pruning will stimulate new growth. Does this apply just to woodies? I've never heard this before. It sounds like an interesting concept. In this case, would the pruning be geared toward the last frost date in that area, then? 8-)

Karin ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If there are plants that are totally dormant (lost their leaves, etc) those are fine to prune during the winter because they're asleep and pruning them isn't what'll wake them up, they won't start to grow until the weather gets warm and they come out of dormancy (but if you have things that are spring bloomers, don't prune them now because you'll prune off the flower buds--spring bloomers should be pruned right after they're done blooming). The reason I told donsmith not to prune the viburnum is because it's evergreen and not dormant, and if a plant isn't dormant and you prune it, you will stimulate new growth and that new growth is much more susceptible to frost damage. Probably the reason you haven't heard it before is because it's mostly a concern with broadleaf evergreen plants, and the colder your zone the less of those you probably have. It was an idea I never heard of when I lived in Ohio either, but out here it's an important thing to be aware of.

I have recently purchased 2 Viburnum plants from my garden centre and they are in 2 large plant pot holders in my back yard. I'm not sure which type of viburnun they are but they are beginning to show a white flower - or at least one is. The other plant seems to be deteriorating slightly with a few holes in the leaves.

I water every evening - is this correct.

I would like advice on how to best take care of the plants as i'm an absolute novice.

Many thanks

me again! need advice also on caring for CALLISTEMON CITRITUS please.

I have a couple different Callistemons and never really do anything to them--I water them occasionally, never fertilize them, and they do great. You might want to start a new thread with your question though--this thread is pretty old and it's about viburnums, so there's a good chance a lot of other people who know about your plant may not see your question.