The pride of these shrubs are flowers usually gathered in umbrella-shaped half-bald trees.However, their seasonal leaves that turn autumn color and, in some species, evergreen, can also be attractive, tolerating winters in Poland quite well.It is also worth mentioning the intensely colored fruits …
The genus viburnum Viburnum is very numerous, as it includes about 150 species of shrubs and small trees found in the northern hemisphere in the temperate climate zone.
Foreign species of viburnum
Kalina fragrant
Viburnum farreri occurs naturally in northern China, it blooms here in early spring.It forms wide shrubs up to 2-2.5 m high. Leaves are wrinkled, flowers in buds are pink, then white, with a strong smell, they develop in late autumn (October / November) or early spring before leaf development.This viburnum requires a sunny or semi-shaded position, necessarily sheltered, because flower buds may freeze during frosty days.This viburnum also has its own varieties: 'Nana' short stature, growing up to 1 m in height; 'December Dwarf' forming dense shrubs up to 1.5 m, low varieties are also grafted on a low trunk. The species of this viburnum is also used in fragrance gardens.
Kalina bodnantska
Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' is a tall, sprawling shrub that grows up to 2.5 m, with shoots initially growing straight, with time arched, lanceolate leaves, turning scarlet red in autumn. It blooms early, in late March and early April.The flowers in buds are pink, then white-pink, they smell intensely.
Korean Kalina
Viburnum carlesii also blooms early. It is a low shrub (it grows up to 1.5 m) with white flowers, initially pink in the bud, gathered in dense, semicircular, large panicles, very pleasantly fragrant and appearing together with the leaves. The cultivars are 'Aurora', which creates dark red flowers in the bud, then pink, and 'Juddii', which forms dense shrubs with pink flowers.
English Kalina
Viburnum x carlcephalum is a hybrid of Korean viburnum and Viburnum macrocephalum. The bushes grow up to 2 m and form large inflorescences with a diameter of 13 cm, somewhat reminiscent of the inflorescences of the 'Roseum' cultivar. Kalina Burkwood's Viburnum x burkwoodii also blooms fairly early. It is a hybrid of the useful Viburnum utile and Korean viburnum. A shrub with half-green leaves grows up to 3 m in height. The leaves on top are smooth, dark green and shiny, and underneath are covered with a brownish-gray cutter.
The flowers hibernate in flower buds that develop in the past year.They are pink before development in buds, and white with a pink shade after unfolding.They develop at the turn of March and April, have a very intense fragrance. The cultivars of this viburnum are: 'Anne Russell' with large, spherical inflorescences in a pink bud; 'Conoy' - a dwarf shrub with white flowers and 'Mohawk' - producing dark red flower buds. Shrubs of this species necessarily require a quiet position.
Species naturally occurring in Poland
Coral viburnum
Viburnum opulus grows in humid positions with a high level of groundwater. The shrubs grow up to 3-4 m, their shoots are erect and overhang with age.The ornaments are snow-white flowers that develop at the turn of May and June.Many ornamental varieties are cultivated in gardens.It is worth mentioning 'Roseum' - known as a fertile variety.
It has very decorative snow-white inflorescences on Wed. 10-12 cm developing in May; similar is created by the variation of 'Pohjan Neito'; 'Compactum' creates low, compact, slowly growing, profusely flowering and fruiting shrubs; 'Nanum' is a very low, compact shrub that grows up to about 0.5 m, it does not bloom; 'Notcutt's Variety' - very impressive shrubs with large flowers and fruits; 'Aureum', 'Anny's Magic Gold' with golden leaves; 'Xanthocarpum' - a strongly growing variety with yellow fruits; 'Kaleidoscope' with leaves with yellow and white spots. There are also fruiting varieties: 'Tojoznyje Rubiny' and 'Ulgen'.
Kalina hordowina
Viburnum lantana is the second native species. It produces showy, egg-shaped, slightly flattened, often red, black and shiny fruits - drupes gathered in impressive seed heads. The shrub is native to southern Europe, northern Africa and southern Asia.In Poland, its individual sites are found in the Sudetes. This viburnum grows up to 3 m, its shoots are arched, reaching the ground.
The leaves are ovate-elliptical, finely toothed, covered with a dense cutter on the underside.Flowers in buds are slightly pink, then white, gathered in podbaldachach at the tops of shoots, they develop in May.There are also cultivars with decorative leaves, e.g. 'Aureovariegata' with wrinkled leaves with large yellow spots, and 'Aureum' with thick yellow leaves.
Japanese viburnum
Viburnum plicatum f. Plicatum occurs naturally in Japan. Botanical forms of this species are cultivated, such as Japanese viburnum in the fertile form Viburnum plicatum f. Tomentosum
- a large, spreading shrub with horizontally arranged branches, forming flat plate-shaped inflorescences with large barren flowers around the edges.
The nurseries also offer cultivars such as: 'Mariesii' growing up to 2 m and with flat shoots; 'St Keverne' - a slowly growing variety with large, flat inflorescences; 'Watanable' grows up to 1.5 m with large, flat inflorescences; 'Pink Beauty' with small leaves and pink flowers; 'Grandiflorum' - with very large inflorescences and round leaves, and 'Popcorn' with large, white, spherical inflorescences.
In the garden, we plant these viburnums in sunny or diffused places, secluded, protected against frosty winds.
Soil and thermal preferences
In the garden, viburnums with seasonal leaves should be planted in sunny, secluded places, protected against the direct effects of frosty winds.They grow well in fertile, well-drained soils with a slightly acidic or neutral pH.
Viburnas with leaves that are always green and semi-evergreen should grow in places sheltered from strongly blowing frosty winds. It happens that during severe winters, the shoots freeze, therefore, outside the western parts of Poland, they require protection for the winter.
