Viburnum carlesii (Koreanspice Viburnum)

An incredible beauty for most seasons, Viburnum carlesii (Koreanspice Viburnum) is a bushy, medium-sized, deciduous shrub noted for its heady fragrance, stunning snowball blooms and attractive fall color. In spring, red flower buds open to very fragrant, blushing pink flowers arranged in snowball clusters, 3 in. wide (7 cm). Elegantly held above the foliage, they gradually fade to brilliant white. They give way to oval, bright red fruits, borne in dense upward clusters, that ripen to black in late summer. The foliage of broadly ovate leaves emerges copper-colored, matures to dull dark green before turning either glorious wine-red or dull burgundy shades in fall. A very rewarding shrub which is not only attractive but also tolerant to adverse conditions and fairly trouble-free.

• Slowly grows up with an upright rounded habit to 4-8 ft. tall and wide (120-240 cm). Spreading with age, Koreanspice Viburnum usually branches close to the ground.
• Winner of the GreatPlants award, which is a joint effort between the Nebraska Nursery, Landscape Association and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. Some cultivars ('Aurora', 'Diana') have been granted the prestigious Award of Garden Merit
• A full sun or part shade lover, this plant is easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Tolerates a wide range of soil types, acidity, and moisture but is happiest in moist, acidic, well-drained soils in full sun.
• Perfect as a specimen plant or in shrub borders, makes striking hedges and screens and lovely foundation plantings. A great shrub for the perennial border too! Plant your Koreanspice Viburnum near high traffic areas to enjoy its wonderful fragrance.
• Attractive to birds!
• Low maintenance, this plant has no serious insect or disease problems but watch for occasional leaf spot and powdery mildew.
• Prune as required immediately after flowering. Cut older branches back to encourage growth
• Fruit if eaten can cause a mild stomach upset.
• Native to Korean and Japan.