Probably the most reliable winter-flowering shrub, it never fails to flower. It is a versatile evergreen shrub with an upright, rounded habit. glossy dark green leaves covering the plant throughout the year. It can be trimmed and shaped early in the spring when the flowers have finished. The flowers are normally pink in bud and open to white, but can be pure white.
Flowers are followed by metallic blue fruits which mature to black. Great for screening or hedging. They can grow quite big so allow some room or be prepared for some hedge trimming. Height 250-300cm. 8-10 foot
Watch out for vine weevil damage, the adult will cause leaf notches, but the grub will eat the roots. More likely the viburnum beetle will appear the caterpillars severely damage the leaves during the summer and needs to be controlled. The beetle overwinters as eggs in the bark of the viburnums in late summer. These eggs hatch in late April-early May and the larvae begin feeding on the new foliage. When fully fed in late May-June, the larvae go into the soil to pupate. Adult beetles emerge in late summer. Most of the damage is caused by the larvae during late spring. This is the best time to control the beetle, but you need to start killing the caterpillars as soon as they appear. I am afraid you will need to use some chemicals (organic if possible) to kill the caterpillars if you spray heavily while the caterpillars are about you can break the cycle and prevent the autumn egg-laying. Adult feeding on the foliage is much less damaging.
Very easy to grow, with glossy evergreen leaves. They never fail to flower, widely available and often on offer.
Not many faults, they can be prone to vine weevil but perhaps the worst is the viburnum beetle this will damage the leaves and can get progressively worse.
