Viburnum x bodnantense 'Deben' flower (21/01/2012, Kew, London)
Position: Full Sun, will tolerate partial shade
Flowering period: Winter to early spring
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 3m
Eventual Spread: 2m
Hardiness: 6a – 9b
Family: Adoxaceae
Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Deben’ is a fast growing, deciduous, upright, bushy shrub . Its dark green leaves are oval in shape with simple to palmate lobes. It has upright branches. The flowers of the plant are produced in small clusters, initially pink buds, opening to fragrant white flowers. The flowers are virtually sterile producing only a few small black or purple fruit.
Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Deben’, commonly known as Bodnant Viburnum, Winter Flowering Viburnum or Arrowwood Deben. Viburnum x bodnantense was produced in 1934 by crossing V. grandiflorum with the fragrant speciesV. farreri in Bodnant Gardens
The etymological root of the binomial name Viburnum is from the Latin name for Viburnum Lantana, or the Wayfaring Tree. Bodnantense is named after Bodnant Gardens, where this plant was created.
Viburnum x bodnantense 'Deben' (21/01/2012, Kew, London)
The landscape architect may find Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Deben’ useful as a fragrant winter flowering shrub.
Ecologically, the leaves of V. x bodnantense ‘Deben’ are sometimes eaten by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species. Its flowers are a valuable source of nectar for insects during the winter months.
The Royal Horticultural Society has given V. x bodnantense ‘Deben’ their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.
V. x bodnantense ‘Deben’ prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
V. x bodnantense ‘Deben’ requires little maintenance. To encourage healthy growth, older shoots can be removed to ground level after flowering to give space to the younger more vigorous shoots.
Advertisement
