Viburnums: Versatile and Beautiful Shrubs
Viburnums are a staple in many gardens, valued for their year-round interest, fragrant blooms, and wildlife-friendly berries. With hundreds of species and cultivars, these hardy shrubs and small trees provide structure, texture, and colour throughout the seasons. Whether you're looking for a compact evergreen variety, a show-stopping flowering specimen, or a shrub with brilliant autumn foliage, there's a Viburnum to suit your needs. Let's explore five standout varieties that bring unique charm to any garden.
Photo by Veronica for Windyridge GC
A medium-sized and bushy variety, Viburnum ‘Eve Price’ is perfect for smaller gardens or container planting. This evergreen shrub boasts deep green, glossy leaves that provide year-round interest. In spring, it produces clusters of pink flower buds that open into fragrant white blooms, attracting pollinators. As the flowers fade, small blue-black berries appear, adding another layer of visual appeal and providing food for birds. ‘Eve Price' thrives in full sun as well as full shade and prefers well-drained soil, making it an easy-care choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. It also makes an attractive hedge thanks to its dense foliage.
Height and Spread: 2 x 2 metres
Flowering season: Late Winter into Spring, Berries in Autumn
We like: its dense foliage and abundance of flowers in the cold season
Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit, RHS Plants for Pollinators
Photo by Brad Newcomb
For those seeking a striking, upright-growing variety, Viburnum 'Kilimanjaro' is an exceptional choice. Named for its tiered branching habit, reminiscent of the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, this deciduous shrub produces stunning white lacecap flowers in late spring. As the seasons progress, the blooms give way to bright red berries that darken to black, providing an essential food source for birds. Come autumn, the foliage takes on warm hues of orange and red, ensuring year-round interest. Hardy and resilient, 'Kilimanjaro' adapts well to various soil types and grows best in a sunny or partially shaded location.
Height and Spread: 4 x 4 metres
Flowering season: Late Spring and occasionally late Summer, Berries in Autumn
We like: Architectural shrub with brilliant autumn colour
Awards: Winner of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Plant of the Year 2015
Photo by Sarah Stults
If fragrance is a priority in your garden, Viburnum 'Anne Russell' is a must-have. This semi-evergreen shrub is known for its intensely perfumed pink buds, which open into clusters of pure white flowers in early spring. The sweet scent fills the garden, making it an ideal choice for planting near patios, pathways, or seating areas where you can fully enjoy its perfume. 'Anne Russell' offers lush green foliage that takes on a reddish hue in autumn, extending its seasonal appeal. It thrives in well-drained soil and enjoys sun to partial shade, proving to be both beautiful and low maintenance.
Height and Spread: 2 x 1.5 metres
Flowering season: Late Winter and Spring, Berries in Autumn
We like: The fragrant flowers appear before the leaves (in colder areas). Evergreen in milder parts of the country.
Photo by Lana Svet
Commonly known as the Snowball Viburnum, Viburnum opulus 'Roseum' is a classic garden favourite. This deciduous shrub is famed for its large, spherical clusters of pure white flowers that resemble hydrangeas. Blooming in late spring, the snowball-like blossoms create a stunning visual display. Unlike other Viburnums, 'Roseum' does not produce berries, making it an excellent choice for those who prefer a non-fruiting ornamental shrub. In autumn, the deeply lobed leaves turn shades of red and orange, enhancing the seasonal spectacle. Hardy and adaptable, this Viburnum grows well in most soil types and enjoys full sun to partial shade.
Height and Spread: 4 x 4 metres
Flowering season: Late Spring and early Summer
We like: Showstopping Flowering
Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit
Photo by Mom the Barbarian on Flickr
Viburnum Davidii is a low-growing, evergreen shrub prized for its glossy, deep green foliage and compact growth habit. This variety is an excellent choice for ground cover, borders, or mass planting. In spring, it produces small white flowers in flattened clusters, followed by striking metallic blue berries in autumn, which persist well into winter. The contrasting foliage and berries add seasonal interest while also attracting birds. Hardy and drought-resistant once established, Viburnum Davidii thrives in a variety of soil conditions and performs well in both sun and partial shade.
Height and Spread: 1.5 x 1.5 metres
Flowering season: Spring, Berries in Autumn and Winter
We like: The long lasting metallic blue berries on a compact shrub
Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re drawn to the fragrant blooms of 'Anne Russell', the striking tiered habit of 'Kilimanjaro', the evergreen elegance of 'Eve Price', the show-stopping flower clusters of 'Roseum', or the compact beauty of 'Davidii', Viburnums are a rewarding addition to any garden. Their resilience, beauty, and benefits to wildlife make them a top choice for gardeners of all experience levels. Plant one (or more) of these incredible varieties and enjoy their charm throughout the seasons.
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