All gardeners are in search of plants that offer multi-seasonal interest, especially those of us living in colder climates. We also love plants that are dynamic and change throughout the seasons; plants that reinvent themselves as the months go by. Well ladies and gents, I would like to share one of those with you today.
I have lived in my current home for about six years and when we moved in, we had a completely blank slate. Not a plant to be found other than one large tree at the back of the property. The first shrub I planted was a Viburnum Plicatum ‘Shoshoni’. I had never had owned one before (do we really own our plants? A debate for another day) since I didn’t have enough space. Viburnums are typically large specimens but when I found ‘Shoshoni’ at the local nursery (thank you Rutgers Nursery) I was pumped to see that is was more diminutive than most.
Some of it’s attributes:
- It is a doublefile viburnum and a seedling of the larger, more well known ‘Shasta’
- It reaches a height of 5 feet and a width of 8 feet
- Survives from zone 5 to zone 8
- Deciduous shrub
- It has been deer resistant so far for me (although now jinxed)
- Blooms in the late Spring, typically for 2-3 weeks in May
- The flowers are flat topped and are not fragrant (although I have no sense of smell and cannot confirm officially)
- Thrive in part shade to full sun
- Produces red berries in August that mature black (I must admit I do not know if the fact that I have other viburnums present lead to the production of berries since this was my first year with berries )
- Tolerant of most soil types (including NJ clay)
Impressive shrub. Thanks for sharing.
It is without doubt a beautiful shrub. The blooms are gorgeous and the leaf colour amazing.
You have no sense of smell and you garden.
How sad you miss all those wonderful fragrances!!!
Love the pretty little flowers it produces and the fact that it’s a shrub that won’t take up much space. Thanks for sharing another wonderful garden tip with us.