Viburnum farreri flower (11/03/2012, Kew, London)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Flowering period: Winter to early spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 3m
Eventual Spread: 2.5m
Hardiness: 5a – 9a
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Viburnum farreri is a medium sized, upright, deciduous winter flowering shrub, becoming rounded with age. Its dark green leaves are prominently veined, oval in shape, entire, toothed and lobed. In spring these emerge bronze and in autumn they turn red/ purple before falling. Its fragrant flowers are white with a pink tinge, have 5 petals and produced on corymbs of up to 5cm across. The fruit is a spherical, oval or somewhat flattened drupe, red to purple, blue or black and containing a single seed.
Viburnum farreri, commonly known as Fragrant Viburnum or Farrier Viburnum, is native to north China. V. farreri is one of the parents of Viburnum x bodnantense varieties. Viburnum farreri is synonymus with Viburnum fragrans.
Viburnum farreri (11/03/2012, Kew, London)
The etymological root of the binomial name Viburnum is derived from the Latin name for V. Lantana, the Wayfaring tree. Farreri is derived form the surname of the English author and plant hunter Reginald Farrer (1880-1920).
The landscape architect may find Viburnum farreri useful as a low maintenance winter fragrant shrub. It may also be used as an informal hedging or screening plant.
Ecologically, V. farreri is attractive to bees and butterflies who are attracted for its nectar. It is beneficial to birds for its fruit.
The Royal Horticultural Society has given V. farreri their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.
V. farreri prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It will not tolerate very wet or dry soils.
V. farreri requires little maintenance. It will tolerate hard renovative pruning.
