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Korean Spice Viburnum Wikimedia Commons
Adoxaceae

Korean Spice Viburnum

Viburnum carlesii

Sweet memories and nostalgia.

Family
Adoxaceae
Genus
Viburnum
Native to
Korea, Japan
Bloom season
Spring
Type
shrub
Height
4-8 ft
Sunlight
full sun to partial shade
Soil
moist, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral
Water
moderate
Hardiness
4-7
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The intensely sweet, spicy fragrance of its flower clusters is considered one of the finest scents in the shrub world.
  • Pink buds open to white flowers in rounded clusters called cymes, creating a beautiful two-toned effect.
  • It was named after William Richard Carles, a British diplomat who collected plants in Korea in the 1880s.
  • The fragrance can perfume an entire garden and is often compared to a blend of cloves, jasmine, and vanilla.
  • Blue-black berries follow the flowers in fall and are quickly devoured by migrating songbirds.

Color meanings

0

sweetness

1

nostalgia

2

enduring affection

Uses

  • fragrant garden planting
  • foundation shrub
  • mixed borders
  • cut branches for indoor display