Intense Fragrance

11 years ago

On my daily bike ride I smelled the sweetest perfume. My nose led me to this large shrub in the neighbor's yard. It is easily 10' high and 15' across. It is absolutely smothered in fragrant flowers. It has clearly been growing alongside the farmhouse for many years. Can you name it?
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Comments (13)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
11 years ago
My Viburnum is blooming like crazy, too. I don't know which of the many fragrant viburnums that is; there are many to choose from. It's a wonderful fragrance....sweet, clean, heavy enough to travel distances but never overpowering.
Sara Malone Zone 9b
11 years ago
I have a one that is very similar and no idea which one it is - it smells heavenly. It is smaller than the one in your photo and has been in the ground for 10-12 years. Are there several that have this flower or can this be narrowed down to one-two cultivars?

Sara
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mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
11 years ago
V. carlesii and its hybrids would be the usual suspects.
Sara Malone Zone 9b
11 years ago
Thanks, at least that gets me closer...I have lost the tag and have no idea which one it is.
Willowy
11 years ago
I would agree Korean Spice Viburnum, it is something I look forward to every spring.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
11 years ago
You can look at the Burkwoods and Judii, too. I'm pretty sure that ours is a "Mohawk " (Burkwood) .
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
11 years ago
i have Mohawk .. but i think it has red eyes ... or at least a pink blush ... see link ...

its a very victorian.. old fashioned scent.. that reminds me of grandma.. or something..

its been about 48 weeks.. so i will have to think about that.. if spring ever comes to MI ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link
jujujojo_gw
10 years ago
Sam, that is beautiful!
Embothrium
10 years ago
The one that really wafts around here is Burkwood viburnum.
chilehed
10 years ago
Another possibility is v. carlcephalum.
harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania
10 years ago
Most of the fragrant Viburnums don't grow that tall. Except Burkwood!
sam_md
Original Author
10 years ago
Not much fruit produced, the ones here are sweet to the taste, think prunes. I spoke to the owner, her parents planted this shrub about 30 years ago. I complimented her for resisting the urge to chop it back into a little green meatball which is what we see so often.
I'm gonna agree with mad_gallica and say one of the V. carlesii hybrids.
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viburnumvalley
10 years ago
Looks like it would be Viburnum carlesii or possibly V. x juddii on evidence presented.

Flowers don't look big and dense enough to be V. x carlcephalum, nor smooth/shiny enough leaves to be one of the V. x burkwoodii clan.

The sweet/pruney flavor of the fruit is universal to this group of fragrant viburnums - which will produce copiously if they have a pollinating partner in proximity.