Viburnum

If you’re searching for a quick-growing hedge or screening plant that features beautiful foliage and striking flowers, consider viburnums (Viburnum spp.). These plants also make a showy specimen when planted on their own.

Viburnums are shrubby plants, both evergreen and deciduous, and are mostly grown for their dense growth and attractive white flowers, many of which are fragrant. Some viburnums also produce colourful berries in autumn. These low-maintenance plants require minimal attention, needing only a couple of trims each year to maintain their shape and size.

There are many species of viburnum to grow in gardens or pots, so visit your hardware or garden centre for varieties that will suit your location and climate. Here are a few to consider:

• Viburnum tinus is one of the most widely grown evergreen shrubs with clusters of white flowers in winter and spring. Widely grown evergreen hedge in cooler climates, it reaches around 3 metres.
• Viburnum odoratissimum or sweet viburnum is a fast-growing, robust evergreen hedge or screening plant with lush, large green leaves and small white flowers. It is extremely hardy and will flourish in many environments.
• Viburnum japonicum or Japanese viburnum is one for a shady or coastal condition. It makes an excellent hedge growing to 2 metres, with a rounded habit and dark green, oval leaves. It has clusters of glossy, bright red berries and white flowers.
• Viburnum. opulus ‘Sterile’ is a deciduous variety known as the snowball bush because of its round heads of white blooms. Growing to around 2 metres, it puts on a stunning display in spring. A hardy plant, it is ideal for the garden or pot.
• Viburnum plicatum is grown for its very attractive white, lace-cap flowers and horizontal branches, which give the shrub the look of a tiered wedding dress. This species also has attractively pleated bright green leaves. For a strong fragrance, look for Viburnum x bodnantense.

Growing conditions

Aspect All viburnums require a bright, sunny location with sun for all or most of the day. Those grown in more shaded conditions produce fewer flowers and may be more susceptible to pests such as two-spotted mites.

Soil Viburnums grow in a wide range of soils with reliable moisture but good drainage. They prefer a slightly acidic soil. Before planting, add homemade compost and organic matter and/or Seasol Super Compost. In areas with alkaline soil, grow viburnums in large containers with a premium potting mix such as Seasol Advanced Potting Mix.

Climate Viburnums grow in a wide range of climates from temperate to tropical, but most do best in cool regions. They will easily adapt to a lot of gardening conditions, so select the species best suited to your climate.

General care

Watering Water regularly to encourage good growth and flowering. Flushes of flowering often occur after heavy rain. Water young shrubs while they are establishing, they are usually drought-hardy once established.

Feeding and mulching Viburnums respond well to feeding. Feed throughout the seasons using a complete fertiliser for flowering plants such as Seasol plus Nutrients All Purpose including Natives. Supplement feeding with a liquid fertiliser such as PowerFeed All Purpose including Natives every 2 to 4 weeks to maintain healthy, strong growth and beautiful blooms. Regular applications of Seasol also assist drought hardiness and disease resistance.

Mulch with organic mulch such as coarse pine bark or sugarcane mulch, depending on your garden’s style.

Pruning Unless growing for berries, prune plants that have finished flowering to encourage more compact growth, keep hedges in shape, eliminate seeding and encourage repeat flowering.

Watch out Viburnums may be attacked by pest problems such as two-spotted mites if they are in a too shaded position or water stressed.