Hardy and resistant, viburnums are easy to grow shrubs. Undemanding, they can be installed in most gardens with rich, fresh, deep soil, favoring a sunny or partial shade location. Despite their rapid growth, these shrubs require little maintenance, especially in terms of pruning. They are divided into numerous varieties with varied characteristics, with deciduous or evergreen foliage and more or less dense, but also flowers of varied colors and shapes.
Viburnum opulus
, or Viburnum Obier
The flowers of orb viburnums are white to pale pink, flat in shape and gathered in large umbels. Copyright (c) 2023 Flower_Garden/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
Obier viburnums are large shrubs (up to 3 meters high), which are appreciated for their rounded shape and generous flowering. Their
white to pale pink flowers, with a flat shape, are gathered in large umbels
. In the “Snowball” obier viburnum (
Viburnum opulus Roseum
), these inflorescences take the shape of a delicate sphere. The beautiful autumn colors of its leaves reinforce its ornamental appearance.
Also read: A bocage hedge project? A good idea, to be implemented
Viburnum bodnantense
, or Bodnant viburnum
The Bodnant viburnum is appreciated for its pink and generous winter flowering. Copyright (c) 2017 Ole Schoener/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
Bodnant viburnum, more commonly winter viburnum, was born from the crossing of the varieties
Viburnum fragrans
and
Viburnum grandiflorum
. It is appreciated for its
pink and generous winter flowering
, which brings cheerfulness to the garden when it is at rest. Present from December to March, the tubular flowers of
Viburnum bodnatense
are very fragrant. Its foliage also offers magnificent autumn colors, as well as a pretty bronze color in spring.
Also read: Winter flowers: our top 15 for a colorful garden!
Viburnum burkwoodi
, or Burwood viburnum
The Burkwood viburnum is sought after for its bushy, bushy habit. Copyright (c) 2019 islavicek/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
Burkwood viburnum comes from a cross between
Viburnum carlessi
and
Viburnum utilitarian
. It is sought after for its bushy and bushy habit, which can be appreciated when planted alone, in clumps or in a hedge. Its dark, dense foliage provides a beautiful screen for its
pink flowers, which slowly turn creamy white
during spring.
Very hardy, this
semi-evergreen viburnum
can retain its foliage in winter when temperatures do not drop below -20°C. In autumn, its foliage takes on pretty copper tones which contrast with its small red then black fruits.
Viburnum plicatum
, or Chinese viburnum
The Chinese viburnum is distinguished by its tiered habit: its branches develop horizontally, creating layers of leaves and flowers and giving the plant a remarkable appearance.
The Chinese viburnum is distinguished from other varieties of
Viburnum
with its
tiered habit
, hence its nickname “plateau viburnum”. Its branches develop horizontally, creating layers of leaves and flowers and giving the plant a remarkable appearance.
It is thus perfectly highlighted when planted
alone
, which gives it room to deploy its long stems. Its foliage is pure green and embossed, adorning itself with warm colors in autumn, while its flowers gathered in corymbs are immaculate white.
Viburnum tinus
, or Laurel tin
Tin laurel flowering lasts from mid-autumn to early spring. SASIMOTO
Although its name of laurel can be confusing, this shrub, often grown as a hedge, is indeed a viburnum! With its
dense and evergreen foliage
, its flowering which lasts from mid-autumn to early spring, and its compact habit, this viburnum is the ideal shrub for creating garden hedges that are both ornamental and obscuring.
Viburnum lantana
, or lantana viburnum
1756031363
Lantana viburnum, deciduous, is distinguished by its thick, hairy leaves, which turn a brick color in the fall. Copyright (c) 2020 Orest lyzhechka/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
Lantana viburnum, also called mancan viburnum, is a very common viburnum in our woods and forests. Very hardy,
it tolerates temperatures of up to -30°C
, making it a species of choice for the coldest regions.
This deciduous viburnum is distinguished by its
thick, hairy leaves
, which take on a brick color in the fall, as well as its very flexible young branches which earn it its nickname of flexible viburnum. Its white flowers gathered in corymbs are tubular in shape with protruding stamens.
Viburnum rhytidophyllum
, or wrinkled-leaved viburnum
The wrinkled-leaved viburnum has leaves with very marked veins. Copyright (c) 2020 OlgaOtto/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
The wrinkled-leaved viburnum, as its name suggests, is distinguished from other species of
Viburnum
by its
leaves with very marked veins
, associated with a downy interior. They also have the particularity of being persistent, which is a relatively rare characteristic in this rather deciduous species. Its creamy white flowers are gathered in large cymes, measuring up to 20 cm in diameter.
Viburnum fragrans (syn. farreri)
, or fragrant viburnum
The fragrant viburnum has the double particularity of offering winter flowering and very fragrant. Copyright (c) 2021 simona pavan/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
The fragrant viburnum has the double particularity of offering
winter flowering and very fragrant
. Bouquets of pink flowers develop on the branches, and follow one another between November and March to bring color and a delicious scent of vanilla to the garden. Its remarkable flowering is combined with deciduous foliage which is bronze in spring, then green in summer before taking on red tints in autumn.
Viburnum pragense
, or Prague Viburnum
1980279311
The Prague viburnum offers evergreen and ribbed foliage as well as very generous spring flowering. Copyright (c) 2021 Beekeepx/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
Prague viburnum is a horticultural variety created
in the city of the same name, from the varieties
rhytidophyllum
andutile
.
We thus find the
persistent and strongly ribbed foliage
of the viburnum with wrinkled leaves, as well as very generous spring flowering, with white flowers gathered in flattened cymes.
Viburnum macrocephalum
, or big-headed viburnum
1426465475
Copyright (c) 2019 luckakcul/Shutterstock. No use without permission.
The big-headed viburnum, also called the Chinese snowball, is distinguished by its
large, round-shaped inflorescences
, which first display a light green color before turning white. The horticultural variety produces sterile flowers, which do not bear fruit, while the wild form, less widespread, produces fertile flowers.