Viburnum Questions

I am planning on planting a Viburnum in my yard next spring and am leaning towards Viburnum prunifolium at the moment. The information I've found on some of the other species of Viburnum indicates that you need at least two plants to get good fruit set, but I haven't seen that specifically for V. prunifolium. Does anyone know if you need two or more plants of V. prunifolium to get good fruit set? If you were to get two plants from the same nursery, what are the chances that they would be genetically identical, i.e. cutting propagated? Lastly, does anyone know a good source of V. prunifolium, PlantScout provided pretty limited options?
Thanks.

You live in Nebraska. There is only one choice: Classic Viburnums, in Upland NE. Gary and Susan will supply you with only the best, and can give you the best answers for NE for your questions.

Many times, viburnums will be cutting propagated and you will get identical plants. If you ask, I'm sure Classic Viburnums will set you up with non-identical clones, since there are more than a few named selections (and they are probably selecting superior ones for Great Plains conditions). I do know they are partial to Viburnum rufidulum, though, as am I. You ought to put that on your top 5 list.

You should have dissimilar plants of the same species with overlapping bloom times to maximize fruiting potential with viburnum. Anyone who tells you different either doesn't know, or is exceptionally lucky. You can take your chances, but you'll never know the full pleasure unless you pair them up.

Good luck with your endeavors, and make room for more specimens of this rewarding genus.

Thank you, ViburnumValley! I had no idea anyone in Nebraska is propagating Viburnums.

V. rufidulum and V. prunifolium are fairly similar to each other, is that correct? If you don't mind, what is it about V. rufidulum that makes you partial to it compared to V. prunifolium?

Just for some background, the area to be planted is in partial shade, moderately dry, and has slightly acidic topsoil/neutral subsoil.

Your site conditions sound appropriate to the two viburnums mentioned. That's the kind of conditions that both species are native in.

Blackhaw and rusty blackhaw are quite similar. The easy differentiating feature is the buds, which are dark rusty red/brown on Viburnum rufidulum and smooth flat light gray on Viburnum prunifolium. Otherwise, height, form, flower, fruit, fall color are all pretty similar. They also develop interesting "alligator hide" blocky bark character with age.

What I like about most every rusty blackhaw that I see is that the summer foliage seems uniformly darker glossier green than blackhaw. Not the biggest deal, but if you have the choice, why not? If you have the room, plant both and multiples of them. If you don't, convince friends and neighbors to do so - ensuring more and better pollination.

That's great information, exactly the sort of thing I was hoping for. Thanks again.

If I wasn't at this conference in Philadelphia, I'd post a picture of a very nice Viburnum rufidulum 'Royal Guard' that I just visited with, in the fine collection at Swarthmore College's Scott Arboretum. It is just developing some of its trademark deep burgundy fall color on the glossy foliage, but alas! not a single fruit because it is the sole one of its species in a massive planting of probably twenty other viburnum species.

So there to the nay-sayers...

vv,
Since your in the neck of the woods of V 'Winterthur' aka "Winterter" and 'Brandywine fame, I 'm hoping you might be able to tell me if ph is the cause of the repeated slow and stunted deaths I have experienced from these beauties? kt