Korean spice viburnum’s most notable characteristic is the intoxicatingly fragrant white flowers that cover the shrub in spring. The pink to red-budded white flowers have a pink blush. Leaves are a dull, dark green that turn outstanding wine-red in the fall. An excellent choice as specimen, in a shrub border, and as a foundation plant. Place it where the fragrant flowers can be enjoyed. This plant has some cultivated varieties. Burkwood viburnum (Viburnum x burkwoodii), is a related species also listed below with cultivars.
Size & Form:
Korean spice viburnum is a rounded, dense shrub with a stiff, upright branching habit. It grows 4 to 8 feet high and wide.
Native geographic location and habitat:
Native to Korea and Japan.
Bark color and texture:
Older stems are gray in color.
Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture:
Opposite, simple leaves are 2 to 4 inch long, and dull to lustrous gray-green. Fall color is wine-red.
Flower arrangement, shape, and size:
Small white flowers bloom in a 2 to 4 inch diameter, semi-snowball shaped cluster. Flower buds are pink, giving flowers a pinkish tinge. Extremely fragrant.
Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions:
Egg-shaped, red to black fruit is not showy or prolific.
Plant care:
Best in full sun to light shade for greatest flowering potential. Although pH adaptable, it prefers moist, well-drained soil. Do not plant in extremely wet sites. Prune after flowering.
List of pests, diseases, and tolerances:
Korean spice viburnum is susceptible to viburnum crown borer. Tolerant of black walnut toxicity.
Aurora Koreanspice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii ‘Aurora’):
This cultivar is 6 to 8 feet high and wide. It has prolific deep pink-red buds that open to pinkish-white.
Compact Koreanspice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii ‘Compactum’):
A dwarf form reaching 3 to 4 feet high, it has dark green leaves and pinkish-white flowers.
Spice Bouquet™ Koreanspice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii ‘N. J. Select’):
Maturing to 4 to 5 feet high and 5 to 6 feet wide, the shrub has dark rose-pink buds that open to soft pink flowers.
Spice Island™ Koreanspice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii ‘N. J. Select A’):
Grows 3 to 5 feet high and wide. Red-pink buds open to white flowers. Dark green leaves during spring and summer with red fall color.
Sugar N’ Spice™ Koreanspice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii ‘N.J. Select S’):
A smaller form reaching 4 to 5 feet high and wide. Dark green leaves turn a maroon red fall color.
Burkwood viburnum (Viburnum x burkwoodii):
This hybrid is a cross between Viburnum utile and V. carlesii. It is a densely-branched shrub reaching 8 to 10 feet high and 5 to 7 feet wide,with fragrant, white, 2 to 4 inch wide flat-topped cymes in April.
Mohawk Burkwood viburnum (Viburnum x burkwoodii ‘Mohawk’):
A hybrid of Viburnum burkwoodii x V. carlesii. A broadly rounded reaching 7 to 8 feet high. Shiny red buds open to white petals with red blotch. The flowers are very fragrant. Dark green leaves turn a reddish-purple in the fall.
