The Burkwood viburnum (Viburnum × burkwoodii), first developed in England, is a dependable shrub that displays great beauty while standing up to tough urban conditions. In many ways it exemplifies the best characteristics of viburnums. 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 FARMS Vibrant, versatile viburnums THESE EASY-CARE SHRUBS 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 plant ency- bodnantense ‘Dawn’ because it’s got cranberry bush (Viburnum trilobum) 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 genus. before the leaves 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 cultivars of these plants 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 flowers, fragrance, great fall color, (Viburnum opulus ‘Sterile’) when it’s new Viburnum introductions: Viburnum attractive evergreen foliage, or bird- in bloom … (with) these giant white dilatatum ‘Cardinal Candy’™, a cultivar 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. Viburnum nudum Additionally, viburnums offer mul- (Viburnum plicatum 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 flower buds 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 deciduous 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 (Viburnum sargentii 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 fruit, 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 FARMS DIGGER Marketplace Your contribution today helps prepare the nursery industry leaders of OREGON tomorrow. NURSERIES FOUNDATION Contact the Oregon Association of Nurseries for more information DIGGER Marketplace 503.682.5089 or 800.342.6401 The ONF is a nonprofit 503(c)3 corporation. Donations may be tax-deductible; consult a qualified tax attorney or accountant. NATIVE NURSERY LLC - Over 300 species grown from seed - Hard to find natives - Drought tolerant, high elevation - Quaking Aspen specialists - Highest Quality bareroot seedlings - Containers from 4”-25 gallon ‘Roots to grow on’ Phone: 541-757-6520 Fax: 541-738-2607 www.sevenoaksnativenursery.com “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 FARMS exhibiting minor problems such as powdery mildew on Viburnum tinus and leaf scorch on Viburnum davidii (when exposed to afternoon sun in dry situations). However, not all species are as trouble-free as the next. There is varying susceptibility to Phytophthora ramorum (SOD) and viburnum leaf beetle. 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.