Viburnum utile (16/11/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Flowering period: Early spring
Soil: Well drained
Eventual Height: 2m
Eventual Spread: 2m
Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a
Family: Adoxaceae
Viburnum utile is an evergreen shrub with a rounded habit. Its dark green glossy leaves are ovate with entire margins, up to 7cm long and 3.5cm broad. Its white waxy fragrant flowers are up to 8mm across, arranged in the form of umbel like cymes which are up to 7cm across. The fruit of the plant is a blue/ black drupe, up to 6mm across.
Viburnum utile Flower (16/11/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Viburnum utile, commonly known as Service Viburnum or Quick Snowball, is native to central China. Viburnum utile is one of the parents of Viburnum x burkwoodii and its cultivars.
The etymological root of the binomial name Viburnum is from the Latin name for Viburnum Lantana, or the Wayfaring Tree. Utile is derived from the Latin utilis meaning ‘useful’.
Although rarely available, the landscape architect may find Viburnum utile useful as a medium sizes evergreen shrub with attractive, fragrant spring flowers.
Ecologically, Viburnum utile flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. Its fruit is attractive to some species of birds.
Viburnum utile Leaf (16/11/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Viburnum utile prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil, including acidic soils.
Viburnum utile requires little maintenance.
