Mature Size of Korean Spice Viburnum

Flowers

• The extremely fragrant flowers of Korean Spice are difficult to resist. Deep-pink flower buds arrive in early spring then open to fragrant white flowers just as the foliage begins to unfurl mid-spring. The small, half-inch flowers appear in rounded clusters measuring 2 to 3 inches across. Their spicy, clove-like fragrance fills the surrounding air for two weeks of peak bloom. A strong attraction for butterflies, the complex fragrance makes Korean Spice a frequent inclusion in sensory and fragrance gardens in arboretums. In the home landscape, a spot near a door or walkway adds to enjoyment of the wonderful scent.

Features

• Korean Spice offers more than just fragrant flowers. Its attractive foliage has a downy surface that also softens the shrub's full, dense habit. In summer, clusters of small red fruit appear where flowers once were. By late summer, the fruit shifts to bluish-black. Because of the dense foliage, the dark fruit is not especially noticeable except when several plants are massed together. However this doesn't prevent the fruit from being very attractive to birds. Leaf color in autumn ranges from wine to purple-red, with orange-red in some varieties.

Adaptability

• Because of its moderate size and adaptability, Korean Spice can be effectively used in many landscape situations. It's attractive as a single specimen, in foundation plantings, grouped together as a screen or providing structure and interest to a large border. It performs well in partial shade to full sun locations, though more sun generally translates to added flowers, fruit and color. Korean Spice adapts to various soil types with well-drained sites rich in organic matter preferred. Keep pruning to a minimum to enjoy its natural shape. Korean Spice's flower buds are produced on old wood, so any pruning should be done right after flowering to avoid reducing next year's flowers.

Varieties

• Many popular varieties of Korean Spice have been developed. Among the best are "Compactum" (Viburnum carlesii "Compactum"), just 3 to 4 feet in height. Suitable for USDA zones 4 through 7, it offers extra dark foliage and outstanding fragrance. "Aurora" (Viburnum carlesii "Aurora"), hardy in USDA zones 4 through 7, reaches 4 to 6 feet in height with red fall foliage and bronze spring foliage to accompany its deep-red buds and pinkish-white flowers. "Aurora" is a Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit winner. "Cayuga" (Viburnum x "Cayuga") is a hybrid cross of Korean Spice Viburnum suitable for USDA zones 5 through 8. Its early-blooming flower clusters measure 4 to 5 inches across and display tight pink buds alongside fully open flowers for a beautiful bi-color effect. "Cayuga" has orange-red autumn foliage and reaches 8 to 10 feet in height.