READER TERRYK HAS ME STUMPED THIS WEEK with the Urgent Garden Question forum question she posed: whether a doublefile viburnum or a Kousa dogwood rated being granted the limited garden space available. I can’t imagine gardening without both…what about you? Which is your preferred plant, or does neither suit your fancy? Do tell.
THE LECTURE that he’s been giving for a number of years is not-so-subtly called “Kill Your Lawn.” Ecological horticulturist Dan Jaffe Wilder knows that starting over and creating an entire native habitat instead of a lawn isn’t for everyone. But Dan just wants to grab our attention and get us to start to make some changes at least in the way we care for the turfgrass we do want in our landscapes. And maybe give up a little square footage of it to some other kind of more diverse planting, too, like the wild strawberries (Fragaria virginiana, inset). Alternative, more eco-focused styles of lawn care, along with some lawn alternatives is what he and I talked about on the podcast. Dan is Director of Applied Ecology at Norcross Wildlife Foundation in Wales, Massachusetts, and its 8,000-acre sanctuary. He’s also co-author with Mark Richardson of the book “Native Plants for New England Gardens.”
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Well, we recently put in a Kousa Dogwood in our limited space, so I guess I’m biased toward that:)
I have them both, too in my small garden. Kousa Dogwood is very beautiful but the layered branches and gorgeous flowers of the Double File Viburnum takes my breath away.
I have a large garden and am blessed to have the space for 3 kousas and 4 doublefiles and I would chose a doublefile..but in a month when the kousas are blooming I’ll probably change my answer:)
@Debbie: I think we have the same number of each. Separated at birth perhaps? :)
decisions, decisions…
Sounds like the doublefile viburnum is getting more votes. If I want that layered look that grows with the horizontal form I need plicatum var. tomentosum, correct?
Will it be happy in a shadier spot or more sun. I do want the berries.
decisions, decisions…
Sounds like the doublefile viburnum is getting more votes. If I want that layered horizontal form with the white flowers and red berries I need plicatum var. tomentosum, correct?
Will it be happy in a shadier spot or will it do better in more sun? I do want the berries.
@Terryk: Sun to part shade is good. There are many varieities, some more and less horizontal. Here’s one list to scan, but also ask at your best woody plant nursery. If I recall correctly, the idea is this on pollination: Plant another VARIETY of the same SPECIES to improve fruit set. So I have ‘Mariesii’ and ‘Shasta’ and some other doublefile (maybe ‘Watanabe’ but can’t recall), and they make each other happy, e.g.
Oh, another question, do you need more than one to cross pollinate and get good flower and berry set?
Thanks so much for all your help, especially that link Margaret.
I have two viburnums in my garden now that bloom on and off but never set berries (much to my disappointment). This year they are starting to look as if they are growing a bit more horizontal.
After reading this link, I am thinking they are either plicatum or ‘Summer Snowflake’ thye don’t produce any or many berries. ‘Summer Snowflake’ it reads blooms on and off till late fall, and these do that.
I now have to find one that is named and is known for berry set.
What is the variety you have of the deepest purple lilacs and where are they aavilable ?