Plant of the Month: December

Viburnum x bodnantense Common name: Bodnant viburnum Family: Caprifoliaceae Vital statistics Height and spread: 3m x 2m (10ft by 6ft) Form: Long lived, upright, deciduous shrub Soil: Moist, well-drained, deep, rich loamy soil Aspect: Full sun to partial shade Hardiness: Hardy throughout the British Isles.

Viburnum x bodnantense @ Harlow Carr

At Harlow Carr, we have a number of specimens located along the main borders, lower lawn area, the winter garden and the scented garden. We also have two cultivars, 'Charles Lamont' AGM, with bright pink flowers, again located in the main borders and the scented garden, and 'Dawn' AGM, whose flowers are of a deep pink fading to blush, (pictured) in the winter garden.

Genus Viburnum

The genus Viburnum contains about 150 evergreen and deciduous shrubs and small trees, mainly from wooded areas of northern temperate regions, but extending to Malaysia and South America. 

Different viburnums are grown for their flowers, fruit and foliage. Most have white flowers, some of them very fragrant, and brightly coloured fruits. Viburnum x bodnantense is grown for its fragrant, pretty, pink winter blossom, while others produce beautiful, scented flowers in spring or early summer. The fruits of Viburnum are usually small and spherical, and usually black, blue or red but V. opulus 'Xanthocarpum', a cultivar of the guelder rose, bears bright yellow berries. Many of the deciduous viburnums such as V. dentatum also provide rich autumn colour.

Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' and 'Charles Lamont'

This beautiful hybrid, is a deciduous shrub with burnished bronze foliage in autumn and exquisitely fragrant flowers from late autumn into early spring. It earns its place in any garden, as it flowers freely all winter. The official flowering season is from mid-October until March, but the dense clusters of sweetly scented, rose-tinted flowers often start appearing earlier while the leaves are still on, and can continue past Easter.

In mild spells it is a spectacular sight, very cheering on a winter's day. The flowers are generally frost resistant but even if they do get frosted, more soon open within a few days. Cut a few sprigs for the house - as cut flowers they last a long time.

V. x bodnantense is a medium to large shrub with a strong upright habit when young, later arching outwards gracefully. A sunny site is best but it can also tolerate dappled shade - in too much shade it will just grow towards the light. As it flowers on bare stems, it is best planted against a green background (such as hedging) to show off its beautiful clusters of flowers, or mixed in with other coloured stems.

The cross of Viburnum farreri (formerly V. fragrans) and V. grandiflorum was originally made by Charles Lamont, the Assistant Curator at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh in 1933. He didn't rate the resulting plants as being any better than their parents, so did not propagate them. In 1934 and 1935, the same cross was done at Bodnant, hence the derivation of the name. 'Dawn' was the first cultivar to be named, 'Deben' was another and, after he died, 'Charles Lamont' was also honoured.

Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' has dark pink flowers that age to white, strongly flushed pink. V. x bodnantense 'Charles Lamont' is similar, but the flowers are a purer, brighter pink.

AGM

The RHS Floral B Committee awarded Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' an Award of Garden Merit and described it as: Strong-growing large deciduous shrub of upright growth, with dark green, ovate leaves and clusters of scented, light pink and white flowers opening from red buds.

The RHS Floral B Committee awarded Viburnum x bodnantense 'Charles Lamont' an Award of Garden Merit and described it as: Vigorous, upright large deciduous shrub with dark purple shoots bearing terminal clusters of scented, pink flowers. Oval leaves open bronze-tinted, becoming dark green by summer.

Cultivation

Viburnums are excellent plants for a woodland garden or shrub border. The winter flowering varieties should ideally be planted where their flowers can be displayed to maximum effect in winter, with an evergreen hedge behind to act as a foil. Alternatively, plant them where the fragrance can be appreciated, beside a frequently used path.

Grow them in moist but well-drained conditions in deep, rich, loamy soil in sun or partial shade.

Honey fungus and leaf spot can be problematic.

Propagation

Propagation is by softwood cuttings taken in early summer for deciduous viburnums, and semi-ripe cuttings taken in summer for evergreen varieties.  Hardwood cuttings taken in early autumn can also propagate deciduous winter flowering species.

Seeds can be sown in containers or in a seed bed in the autumn.