Viburnum x burkwoodii
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- vih-BUR-num berk-WOOD-ee-eye
- Description
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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:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Conoy', 'Mohawk'
- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Multi-stemmed
- Open
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Bark Description:
- Mature bark is gray-brown and fissuring
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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.
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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
