The genus, Viburnum, contains many, many species of shrubs. Several dozens of these species have found their way into the nursery trade and into our gardens. Viburnums are a very flexible group of shrubs that have a lot of nice ornamental traits and few serious problems. One of the key traits is that most of them tolerate shady situations so they work well with plants such as hostas.

Viburnums for the Home Garden - Genus Viburnum

 

1. Flat Clusters of Perfect Flowers - These can be several inches in diameter and consist of hundreds of small, perfect flowers colored creamy white.
   

   V. dentatum V. dilatatum

   V. lentago V. sieboldii

2. Snowballs - Rounded clusters of sterile flowers which do not bear fruit.
   

   V. opulus V. sargentii V. trilobum

   V. plicatum cultivars or varieties tomentosum 'Mariesii' 'Roseum'

3. Doublefile Flowers - Flat clusters of perfect flowers surrounded by large, sterile or ray flowers around the perimeter.
   

   V. macrocephalum - Snowball V. opulus 'Roseum' - European Snowball V. plicatum - Japanese Snowball

Viburnum species are available with a wide range of bloom times. The following list gives the relative bloom time for many types of viburnum. Depending on the climate in your area, the months may be different but the order will be the relative same.

• V. acerifolium
• V. lantanoides (V. alnifolium)
• V. cassinoides

• V. sieboldii - Siebold Viburnum - Large, dark green, deeply rugose leaves appear in clusters on the branches so that there are open spaces without foliage, lending a most pleasing aspect to the plant as a whole. (Named for plant explorer, Philip von Siebold)
  
  

• V. x rhytidophylloides - Long leaves - 'Willow Wood Seedling'





• V. lantana 'Rugosum' - Wayfaring Tree - rugose, slightly glossy, dark green leaves that have none of the light green of the species.
  
  

• Other Viburnums also have handsome foliage, but the above-mentioned might be considered the best for this purpose.