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Viburnum x burkwoodii

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
vih-BUR-num berk-WOOD-ee-eye
Description

Burkwood viburnum is an easy-to-grow shrub that has showy fragrant flowers and will attract wildlife to your yard. It is a cross of garden origin between V. carlesii and V. utile, grown for its early, strongly scented flowers. This particular hybrid is not as showy as others with its summer fruit display.  To have the best cross-pollination and fruit display plant in groups rather than as specimens.  It is adaptable to a wide range of soils and pH types. Mature plants have excellent heat and drought tolerance.  Leaves turn maroon in fall but remain evergreen in zones 7 and 8.  

Use as a foundation plant, hedge, or specimen in average moist garden soil in full sun to partial shade.

Seasons of Interest:

Bloom:  Spring         Foliage: Spring, Summer, and Fall               Fruits:  Summer

Quick ID Hints:

  • bulky semi-evergreen to deciduous shrub 
  • showy, fragrant, blooms from mid-March to April
  • glossy, ovate, pubescent leaves, opposite in arrangement
  • fall leaf color ranges from burgundy red to purple
  • in summer, red drupes ripen to black 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  There are no serious insect or disease problems, but leaf spots and aphids may be detected. 

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

 

 

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Conoy', 'Mohawk'
Tags:
#fragrant#showy flowers#deciduous#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#specimen#white flowers#semi-evergreen#pink flowers#deciduous shrub#low maintenance#fall interest#accent plant#deer resistant#foundation planting#pollinator plant#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#shrub borders#landscape plant sleuths course#hedge#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Conoy', 'Mohawk'
Tags:
#fragrant#showy flowers#deciduous#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#specimen#white flowers#semi-evergreen#pink flowers#deciduous shrub#low maintenance#fall interest#accent plant#deer resistant#foundation planting#pollinator plant#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#shrub borders#landscape plant sleuths course#hedge#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Viburnum
    Family:
    Viburnaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Root Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Asia
    Wildlife Value:
    Mildly resistant to deer
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Fragrance
    Dimensions:
    Height: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 9 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Multi-stemmed
    Open
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Red/Burgundy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Drupe
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    0.3 in. red fruit turns black in summer
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Cyme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Pink buds open to fragrant white blooms in April on 2-3 inch rounded cymes.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Up to 4-inch glossy green leaves have hairy undersides and turn maroon in fall.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Bark Description:
    Mature bark is gray-brown and fissuring
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Cream/Tan
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Buds:
    Smooth/Hairless
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Stems are tan and pubescent, relatively thin, and becoming densely branching with age.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Landscape Theme:
    Children's Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Small groups
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought