This week we are weaning ourselves back to just two plants in bloom for our Friday Floral post: one shrub and one spring bulb. If you could only walk around the yard and see what isn’t being covered by this extraordinary restraint, it would make you weep. Maybe some of it will still be in bloom in future weeks. Let’s hope so. These photos were taken by my wife throughout this week. Enjoy.
The genus Viburnum represents a class of shrubs that has dozens, possibly hundreds of cultivars, and yet they are virtually unknown in the home landscape. So many plant materials are snubbed because they are not evergreen, despite the fact that the sameness of evergreens can sometimes translate into “boring.” This is something we have tried to avoid, using evergreens—mostly holly, and boxwood—mainly as hedge material on our property borders. On the other hand, so many deciduous shrubs have their week of glory, and then blend into a different kind of “boring” for the rest of summer. And they are leafless all winter long, to boot. I can understand that too. And that is the very reason we love the four different Viburnum in our landscape. They have more to offer than a short-lived pretty face in spring. Beginning in winter the tidy, mid-sized shrubs are indeed leafless, but with steel-gray stems forming interesting patterns against the brown turf and blue sky. (Don’t even think about snow. I won’t allow it.) In late winter pointed scale-patterned buds stud the terminals of each branch. In early pre-spring those buds swell and take on a rich pink hue. Mid March heralds true spring with what you see here: the palest of pink blossoms covering the entire shrub. But what your senses cannot gather in from this page is the sweet smell that blankets our entire front yard. It is indescribable. This specimen is Viburnum ‘Korean Spice’ which is a hybrid of two other Viburnum species. After the big show in spring, Viburnum sports semi-leathery leaves, each species and cultivar with its own distinctive leaf pattern, veining, and hue. The flowers produce red berries, again each kind having its own shade of red, with some species sporting almost black berries. The birds devour the berries once they are ripe, so this part of the show doesn’t last all summer. Their combination of size and hardiness makes Viburnum perfect for the low-maintenance home landscape.
My wife loves hyacinths. Though the waxy flower spikes only last a few days, and the bulbs eventually have to be replanted every so often, they are well worth the minimal effort. They come in many colors, and all are fragrant. I like them too.
Have a good week end, and a blessed Lord’s day.
I think you need to discontinue this Friday Flower category. You are far too persuasive and now I want a viburnum. But on the other hand, I really like your writing voice when speaking of plants.
This would fit in your yard, Mary. But if you want something smaller, look for Viburnum x burkwoodii ‘Conoy’. It looks and smells the same, but considerably smaller. Thanks for the “flowers.”