The Burkwood (Viburnum × burkwoodii), first developed in England, is a dependable that displays great beauty while standing up to tough urban conditions. In many ways it exemplifies the best characteristics of . Its pink blooms appear for two weeks every April and are very fragrant. It can be used in hedges, borders and entranceways, and as a specimen planting. Some 18 Oregon nurseries grow it (see www.nurseryguide.com).

28 SEPTEMBER 2009 ▲ DIGGER Fisher FarmsFisher

Vibrant, versatile viburnums

These easy-care offer shortage of choices for retail nursery use (viburnums) a lot in fall … and sell display areas. They can lure customers them for their fall color.” many attractive attributes to the garden center during traditionally Doublefile viburnums make a slow sales periods, boosting the odds of repeat appearance, showing off red- By Lisa Albert those important customer impulse buys. dish purple fall color instead of layered It doesn’t take more than a quick “In February, we’ll show Viburnum tiers of white spring blooms. American glance through the V’s in a ency- bodnantense ‘Dawn’ because it’s got bush () clopedia to realize that there are riches a fragrant blossom early in the spring is another viburnum with great red fall to be found within the Viburnum . before the come on,” said Lee color that often shows up in the entry The Oregon Association of Powell, a landscape architect and co- display at Garland Nursery. Nurseries 2010 Directory & Buyers owner of Garland Nursery in Corvallis, “(In October) we’ll pull up some Guide lists a dizzying 62 different spe- Ore. “There aren’t a lot of other exciting of the others for their berries, like cies, hybrids and of these at that time so we’ll bring that up (Viburnum) nudum and (Viburnum) beautiful, easy-care shrubs. and sell it. dilatatum,” Powell said. Whether the home gardener wants “We’ll bring up the snowball tree He’s particularly excited about two , fragrance, great fall color, ( ‘Sterile’) when it’s new Viburnum introductions: Viburnum attractive evergreen foliage, or bird- in bloom … (with) these giant white dilatatum ‘Cardinal Candy’™, a attracting berries, there is a viburnum to snowballs in late April or early May. with improved cold hardiness, features match the need. We’ll bring up the doublefile viburnums bright red berries.

Additionally, viburnums offer mul- ( var. tomentosum) ▲ tiple seasons of interest, so there’s no when they’re in bloom in May. We also 30

SEPTEMBER 2009 ▲ DIGGER 29 Picks ▲ VIBURNUMS

Burkwood viburnum (Viburnum × from the burkwoodii) – Zone 4-8. Height 8-10’, spread 4-6’. A very reliable fragrant rosros viburnum, it PP is upright and somewhat open It isn’t hard to get growers to talk in form. It has about plants. The tough part is getting lustrous, dark them to narrow down their list of green leaves with favorites to just a handful. Here are good red and orange fall color. some of the varieties our sources Its early-blooming, recommended: attractive pink open to white with an intoxicating fragrance. Lee Powell Owner / Landscape Architect Jerry Brown Garland Nursery, Corvallis, Ore. Marketing and Business Development Director Shasta doublefile viburnum (Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum ‘Shasta’) –This is Fisher Farms, Gaston, Ore. an 8-10 foot tall shrub with beautiful, Brandywine™ Viburnum (Viburnum creamy white flowers in spring, nicely textured nudum ‘Bulk’ PPAF) – A Proven Winners leaves, and rusty red fall color. It makes a nice Color Choice focal point plant. Hardy to zones 4-8. shrub that is Viburnum × burkwoodii ‘Mohawk’ – 6-8 feet. distinguished by its A tall deciduous shrub with pink buds opening unusual clusters of to a white flower. Nice orange-red fall color. vivid pink and blue Zones 4-8. berries in the fall. It grows to about Chinese viburnum (Viburnum propinquum) 6 feet tall and is a – Dense shrub with glossy green leaves that Zone 5 plant. The can be pruned into a hedge or left alone. It is foliage is a great evergreen, fairly drought-dolerant. About 6 feet maroon-red in the tall and wide. Zones 8-9 autumn. Blue Blaze™ viburnum (Viburnum Mike Anderson dentatum ‘Blubzam’) – A new selection Propagation Manager from the breeding work of Lake County. It Carlton Plants, Dayton, Ore. has a nice, dense, Onondaga viburnum ( rounded habit ‘Onondaga’) – Zone 4-7. Height 6-8’, spread with attractive 5-7’. This is an introduction from the U.S. gunmetal-green National Arboretum, and it is one of the best foliage with a deep viburnums for foliage. wine frost tone. Its velvety, dark In the autumn, maroon new growth the foliage turns a Autumn Jazz™ viburnum (Viburnum turns green with a lustrous red-purple. purple tinge. In the It produces prolific dentatum ‘Ralph Senior’) is a great fall fall, the color then clusters of majestic interest shrub. Its leaves turn to shades of turns to a brilliant, blue berries in the fall. A Zone 3 plant that yellow, orange and burgundy. In the spring it deep red. It has reaches 5 feet. bears white flowers; in the summer it bears stonefruit that attract birds and wildlife. attractive, cream- Raspberry tart arrowwood viburnum colored ray flowers in (Viburnum the spring. It has red dentatum , but not a great ‘Rastzam’) – ‘Brandywine’™ has purple and pink display. Another wonderful berries. Compact European cranberrybush cultivar from Lake “I’ve only seen a picture (of County. It has nice (Viburnum opulus ™ ‘Compactum’) bright shiny foliage ‘Brandywine’ ),” Powell said. “If the – Zone 3-8. Height with abundant berry is like its picture, boy, it will sell 4-6’, spread 4-5’. A white flowers in like crazy!” selected compact form the spring. Has of Viburnum opulus a rounded shape that forms a dense, reaching to 5 Looking their berry best rounded globe with feet and is hardy to Zone 3. The fall color is Putting viburnums with their best deep green foliage. Its outstanding with raspberry-red color, simply berry forward takes forethought and dazzling. It then produces blue-black fruit. showy flowers in April/ requires changes in standard nursery May will consistently . yield a large crop of pruning practices. But the payoff – pre- very showy, scarlet fruit persisting well into the senting plants that appeal to consumers winter. Good red fall color. Best in full sun – is worth it.

30 SEPTEMBER 2009 ▲ DIGGER Fisher FarmsFisher

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“For Le Tour des Plants (an OAN annual event in September) … we HOSTETLER set aside a percentage of the crop of FARM DRAINAGE ‘Cardinal Candy’™ and ‘Brandywine’™ 503-266-3584 (with instructions to) keep the shears off • Plastic Tubing 3"-24" • Laser Grade these and let them berry up,” said Jerry Control • Open Ditch for Buried Brown, operations manager for Fisher Irrigation • Plows and Trenches • Pot-n-Pot Drainage • Oldest Drainage Farms in Gaston, Ore. “We realize that Firm in Oregon • Newest Subsurface the selling season extends through a Irrigation Techniques long period of time. Certainly, fall (pres- Materials and ents) another selling opportunity.” Technical The rest of the crop is trimmed Assistance “to keep body on them” so that Canby, OR ▲ Available 32

SEPTEMBER 2009 ▲ DIGGER 31 Pest alert ▲ VIBURNUMS In general, viburnums are trou- ble-free, low-maintenance plants, Fisher FarmsFisher exhibiting minor problems such as powdery mildew on and scorch on (when exposed to afternoon sun in dry situations). However, not all species are as trouble-free as the next. There is varying susceptibility to (SOD) and . Viburnum leaf beetles have plagued viburnums in the Northeast for years, as they chew their way through landscapes and forests where many Viburnum species are endemic. In 2001, the beetle reared its ugly head in British Columbia, Canada. It has since been spotted in Whatcom County, Wash. and all reports show it to be on an inevi- table march southward to Oregon. Because both larvae and the adult beetle feed on the leaves, plants do not have time to grow new foliage between attacks. Although initial damage is pre- dominately aesthetic, according to Robin Rosetta, associate professor with Oregon State University, North Willamette Research and Education Center in Aurora, Ore., that dam- age equals lost sales. Few customers will be eager to purchase a vibur- num with skeletonized leaves. Additionally, repeated attacks deplete a plant’s energy; two to three consecutive years of infesta- tion will eventually kill a plant. At present, there are limited methods to control this pest that has no known natural enemies. One cultural remedy is to monitor branches for scars that indicate over-wintering eggs, and prune and destroy infested branches. Another is to grow species that have shown resistance to the pest. European highbrush cranberry (Viburnum opulus) is one of According to a list compiled by the recommended fruiting viburnums, both for looks and for Dr. Paul Weston, Woody Plant wildlife. Humans are urged to be cautious about eating the berries, however. They can cause mild stomach upset. Entomologist, Cornell University, resistant choices include the popu- lar Viburnum bodnantense, V. davidii they are ready for next year’s sales, While some viburnums are self- and V. plicatum var. tomentosum. Brown said. fruitful, other viburnums produce heavi- For further information, con- Mike Anderson, propagation man- er crops of berries when pollinated by tact Rosetta by phone at 503-678- ager for Carlton Plants in Dayton, another species or another variety with- 1264, ext. 133 or by email at robin. [email protected], or con- Ore., recommends red-fruiting in the same species of viburnum. sult the viburnum leaf beetle page compact European cranberry bush “Viburnum nudum ‘Winterthur’ is at the Pacific Northwest Nursery (Viburnum opulus ‘Compactum’) and said to be a great pollinator for other vari- IPM Web site (http://oregonstate. cultivars of blue-fruiting arrowwood eties and species of viburnums, including edu/dept/nurspest/viburnum_leaf_ (), an East Coast some of the dentatums,” Anderson said. beetle.htm), which includes the native, as great berry-producing vibur- “They’ll fruit heavier if they’re planted link to Dr. Weston’s susceptibility list (http://www.hort.cornell.edu/ nums. Compact European cranberry near a (Viburnum) nudum.”

vlb/suscept.html). bush performs and well in his ▲ Oregon garden. 34

32 SEPTEMBER 2009 ▲ DIGGER DIGGER Marketplace

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SEPTEMBER 2009 ▲ DIGGER 33 Fisher FarmsFisher ▲ VIBURNUMS

Viburnum nudum ‘Winterthur’ is a favored pollinator for Viburnum nudum ‘Brandywine’™. Planting the two together will result in heavier fruiting on both shrubs. Location also plays a role in a plant’s fruiting performance. “(Viburnums) tend to fruit a lot better on the East Coast,” Anderson said. “They can be spectacular, and rarely do you see the (same ones) fruit as well here for whatever reasons, whether it’s inadequate or if it’s the climate.” Their cold-hardiness – some are rated to Zone 2 – plays a part in their appeal to gardeners in cold regions, such as Colorado, Idaho and Utah, the three states that represent the bulk of out-of-state sales for Fisher Farm’s 18 cultivars of viburnums.

A garden foundation Whatever the reason behind demand, viburnums play an important role in home gardens, serving as foun- dation plants, hedging material and “bones” in mixed borders. An added bonus is that berry- producing viburnums provide food for wildlife, helping homeowners create gardens that are not only beautiful, but serve an additional purpose. The Blue Blaze™ viburnum (Viburnum dentatum ‘Blubzam’) was so named for its abundance of Their one shortcoming is that the bright blue berries that attract wildlife. Its foliage also offers fall interest, turning reddish purple. majority of viburnums grow into large Like other arrowwood viburnums (Viburnum dentatum), it does well in poor conditions. shrubs – in the 8 to 15 feet high and wide realm – limiting their use in containers and small gardens. Viburnum opulus ‘Nanum’ is one of G    N  A ’ the rare choices for the two to three foot category. However, we can expect to see new dwarf cultivars and N   S hybrids hit the market, along with Finest Blueberry other improved selections of these favorite landscape shrubs. Breeders and growers look for four key features when choosing Liter pots • #1 Containers viburnums for today’s landscapes: 503-873-1200 flower appeal, berry set, fall color and, [email protected] to meet today’s smaller gardens, vibur- www.oreblueberry.com nums that offer all those attributes in a compact size.

34 SEPTEMBER 2009 ▲ DIGGER In the Biltmore for your Home line, Fisher Farms offers Viburnum dentatum ‘Raspberry Tart’ and Viburnum plicatum var. tomentosum ‘Fireworks’, two cultivars developed by Jim Zampini at Lake County Nursery in Ohio that are reduced versions of the species form. “Jim likes to develop plants that are very low maintenance,” Brown said. “He wants plants that are more compact, requiring less trimming by the homeowner. He also considers leaf SAVE MONEY. USE ACTINO-IRON. quality while in season and great fall Actino-Iron is a high concentration of patented bene cial color … and fruit. He’s trying to get bacteria on an iron and humic acid carrier. This powerful new them downsized to fit in today’s back- soil additive eectively suppresses a wide range of soil borne yards, which are smaller.” diseases including Pythium, Phytopthora, Fusarium, Rhizocto- When dwarf options are limited, nia and other root decay fungi. In fact, when Actino-Iron is encourage consumers to choose vibur- used as a preventative, researchers have seen Actino-Iron nums that adapt to heavy, regular prun- work as well or better than most chemicals. Start saving ing, such as Viburnum tinus and its money today by adding Actino-Iron to your soil. cultivars. Powell doesn’t recommend heavy pruning with large-leaved vibur- ® nums, such as Viburnum davidii, an Actino-Iron evergreen he likes to use in his designs BIOLOGICAL FUNGICIDE with iron & humic acid for its bold, heavily textured leaves and blue berries. He recommends pruning • Reduces or eliminates chemical fungicide use it back once every few years to keep it • Reduces or eliminates the need for iron chelates under control. Alternatively, tall-growing vibur- • Promotes robust root growth nums, such as Viburnum opulus ‘Sterile’, • Increases plant size and development adapt well to training as small trees. “Tree-forms are very popular … • Provides Slow-Release Iron To Trees, Shrubs, people’s yards are smaller (and) a lot Annuals, Perennials & More of people are doing container gardens on patios. (Patio trees) are selling very • Natural & Safe well,” Powell said. And if all the above assets aren’t enough, there are even viburnums that DA0904 www.naturalindustries.com boast drought resistance. “Viburnum tinus is definitely on the drought-resistant end,” Powell said. “I think, once established, the dilatatums should be fairly drought- resistant. The trilobums are also drought-resistant.” St. Paul Branch Administrative Offices The final trick to selling these 20160 Main St. 7746 St. Paul Hwy. plants is to show the plant in context St. Paul, Oregon St. Paul, Oregon 503.633.4281 503.678.5932 with other plants in a design. This is 1.888.814.5727 1.800.648.2718 especially true for Viburnum davidii, a hard-working shrub that may be over-

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SEPTEMBER 2009 ▲ DIGGER 35 ▲ VIBURNUMS ey N u rsery Bai l ey

Protects & • Corrugated Prevents • UV Stabilized damage from: • Available • Mowers & in sizes: Trimmers 2” x 24” • Sun Scald • Rodent Damage 2” x 30” 2” x 36” Viburnum × ‘Emerald Triumph’ was introduced by the University of Minnesota in 1994. Its deep • Deer Antler Rubs green, glossy foliage is a major point of interest. It bears white blooms in the spring, followed by • “Girdling” 2” x 48” red fruits that turn black in the summer. from Rabbits 3” & 4” • Shipping also available looked because it’s been over-planted This richly diverse group of plants and often not in prime situations. has much to offer the home gardener. “It’s a wonderful plant for its The key to sales is to show-off vibur- texture, color, foliage, flowers and nums’ wonderful qualities, provide the berries,” Powell said. “(However) it’s best choices to meet customers’ needs, never about a single plant. I don’t and pair those choices with other show it that way because a client great plants to create a great-looking may be disappointed. The key is to garden. show is as part of a design. I’ll put (Viburnum davidii) with a ‘Morning Lisa Albert is a freelance garden Light’ grass (Miscanthus sinensis writer based in Tualatin, Ore. Her ‘Morning Light’) behind it and a hardy work has been featured in Sunset geranium next to it to offset the dark, magazine. Contact her at large foliage … a line of viburnums is [email protected] or visit her Web not as exciting.” site at www.lisaalbertwriter.com.

36 SEPTEMBER 2009 ▲ DIGGER