How to Grow Spring Bouquet Viburnum - Plant Care & Tips

By NorwichGardener Team   /   2024

Spring bouquet viburnum is a deciduous shrub that is often used as an ornamental plant. It is native to East Asia but has been introduced to many other parts of the world. It grows up to 6 m tall and has opposite, ovate-lanceolate leaves. The flowers are white or pink, and the fruit is a red drupe.

How to Grow Spring Bouquet Viburnum - Plant Care & Tips

Also known as

  • Bouquet viburnum
  • Spring bouquet viburnum
  • Viburnum rufidulum
  • Viburnum lantana
  • Viburnum obovatum

Common Knowledge

  • Spring bouquet viburnum (Viburnum x carlcephalum) is a hybrid viburnum that is a cross between V. carlesii and V. plicatum.
  • It is a deciduous shrub that typically grows to 6-8’ tall and to 8-10’ wide.
  • It is noted for its large, showy, flat-topped clusters of white flowers which appear in early to mid-spring.
  • Each flower cluster can contain up to 40 flowers.
  • The flowers are followed by clusters of dark blue berries which ripen in late summer and persist into winter.
  • The berries are attractive to birds.
  • The foliage of this viburnum turns shades of yellow, orange and red in the fall.
  • Spring bouquet viburnum is best grown in full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soils.
  • It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution.
  • This hybrid viburnum is a cross between V. carlesii and V. plicatum.

Related plant:
Spring Flowering Bushes

Growing Steps

  1. For spring bouquet viburnum, first step is choose a well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic soil in full sun or part shade.
  2. If the soil is not well-drained, build raised beds or beds on slopes.
  3. Amend the soil with compost or other organic matter before planting.
  4. Set out plants in early spring, spacing them 3 to 6 feet apart, depending on the variety.
  5. Spring bouquet viburnum is a low-maintenance plant, but it will perform best if fertilized in early spring with a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-
  6. Water plants regularly during the first growing season to help them establish a deep, extensive root system.
  7. Once established, spring bouquet viburnum is relatively drought tolerant.
  8. This shrub blooms on last year's wood, so prune it immediately after flowering in late spring or early summer.
  9. Spring bouquet viburnum can be propagated by softwood cuttings taken in late spring or early summer.
  10. This shrub is also sometimes grown as a flowering hedge.

Soil Condition

About soil condition, the best way to ensure your plant will have what it needs is to check the pH level of your soil. The soil should be mix of sand, silt, and clay. Water should be able to drain through it, but it should also hold moisture. If your soil is too sandy, it won't hold enough moisture and your plant will suffer. If it's too clay-ey, it will compact and suffocate your plant's roots.

Light requirement

Just like other spring blooming shrubs, the spring bouquet viburnum needs full sun to partial sun in order to produce an abundance of flowers. If you live in an area with long, hot summers, you'll need to provide some afternoon shade to prevent the leaves from scorching.

The Temperature

The temperature condition for the spring bouquet viburnum is cool to cold. The plant prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. The spring bouquet viburnum is a deciduous shrub that blooms in the spring. The flowers are white and have a strong fragrance. The spring bouquet viburnum is a popular choice for cut flowers.

Humidity Level

Ideal humidity condition for this plant is around 40%. If the humidity drops below 30%, the plant will start to wilt. If the humidity stays below 20% for too long, the leaves will start to turn brown and fall off.

The Fertilizer

For the fertilizer, this type of plant prefers a balanced fertilizer with an N-P-K of 10-10-10. You can either use a granular fertilizer or a liquid fertilizer. If you choose to use a granular fertilizer, make sure to water the plant well after application. If you opt for a liquid fertilizer, apply it every two weeks during the growing season. As for the root, this plant prefers well-drained soil. If the soil is too heavy, it will cause the plant to become waterlogged and rot.

Plant Pruning

Pruning is an important part of taking care of your spring bouquet viburnum. Pruning helps to maintain the shape of the plant and encourages new growth. When pruning, be sure to remove any dead or damaged branches.

About Propagating

Propagation is best done by softwood or semi-ripe cuttings taken in late spring or early summer. Remove a 40 to 60cm (16 to 24in) length of shoot, cutting just below a node, and pot up in a mixture of equal parts peat and sharp sand. Firm in and keep moist but not wet. Cuttings should root within four to six weeks.

Growth Speed

Usually, the plant growth rate is considered slow to medium. Under the right growing conditions, they can reach their full potential size of 6 to 10 feet tall and wide. They prefer full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. Once established, they are drought tolerant.

The Problems

Common problems for this kind of plant plants are listed below. 1. Over-watering: This is the most common mistake when it comes to viburnum care. Too much water will cause the roots to rot, so it is important to only water when the top inch of soil is dry. 2. Fertilizer: Viburnums are not heavy feeders, so you should only fertilize if the plant is looking unhealthy. A balanced fertilizer applied in early spring is all that is needed. 3. Pruning: You can prune viburnums in late winter or early spring, before new growth appears. Be careful not to prune too much, as this can damage the plant. 4. Diseases: The most common disease problems for spring bouquet viburnums are powdery mildew and leaf spot. These can be controlled with fungicide sprays. 5. Pests: Aphids, scale, and whiteflies are the most common pests that attack viburnums. These can be controlled with insecticide sprays.

List to Know

  • If you want to grow a spring bouquet viburnum, start by planting the shrub in well-drained, organic-rich soil.
  • Viburnum shrubs prefer full sun to partial shade, so choose a location accordingly.
  • Water your viburnum regularly, especially when the plant is young. Once established, the shrub is relatively drought tolerant.
  • Apply a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch around the base of the plant to help conserve moisture and control weeds.
  • Fertilize your viburnum shrub once a year in early spring using a balanced granular fertilizer.
  • Prune viburnum shrubs in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins.
  • To encourage the production of large, showy flowers, remove anyold or misshapen flower clusters in early spring.
  • Garden pests such as aphids,

Related Plants

  • Viburnum bracteatum (fragrant snowball)
  • Viburnum burkwoodii (fragrant viburnum)
  • Viburnum carlesii (fragrant viburnum)
  • Viburnum cassinoides (evening trumpetflower)
  • Viburnum cinnamomifolium (fragrant viburnum)
  • Viburnum dilatatum (linden viburnum)
  • Viburnum edule (sweet viburnum)
  • Viburnum × jackii (fragrant viburnum)
  • Viburnum x juddii (fragrant viburnum)
  • Viburnum x rhytidophylloides (princesstree)

Source:
JC Raulston Arboretum - Our Plants - Viburnum tinus 'Spring Bouquet'
Viburnums | North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Viburnum × bodnantense 'Dawn' - Oregon State University

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Reviewed & Published by Richelle
Submitted by our contributor
Shrubs Category