Bodnant viburnum is a beautiful winter-flowering shrub that adds a burst of color to gardens during the dreary months of January and February. It was first discovered in the early 20th century at Bodnant Garden in Wales, where it gets its name.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Viburnum × bodnantense, the Bodnant viburnum, is a Group of hybrid flowering plant cultivars of garden origin. They originate in a cross between V. farreri and V. grandiflorum made by Charles Puddle, head gardener to Lord Aberconway at Bodnant Garden, Wales around 1935.
The most famous selection, ‘Dawn’, is a substantial deciduous shrub growing to 2.5 m (8.2 ft) tall by 1.5 m (4.9 ft) broad. In winter and early spring the bare branches are clothed with fragrant pink blooms, and later by narrow, heavily-veined oval leaves. These turn bright red in autumn, and are often accompanied by small globose red fruits. Though hardy down to −20 °C (−4 °F), like all early-flowering shrubs the flowers can be affected by late frost – which in turn affects the production of fruit. This shrub requires a sheltered position in full sun or partial shade, in soil that stays moist.
The cultivars ‘Dawn’, ‘Deben’ and ‘Charles Lamont’ are recipients of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
According to the Plant List, Viburnum × bodnantense is an unresolved name, meaning that it has not yet been accredited as a valid botanical name or synonym.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Bodnant viburnum in cold environment loves to grow in full sun on slopes and edging rocks in its natural habitat. Varieties adaptable to warmer climates grow well in full sun to medium shade; long exposure to strong light should be avoided. They can be shaded by buildings or big trees. A certain amount of scattered light is needed in the flowering phase to ensure enhanced and continuous flowering in warmer climates, but overall, plants in this genus perform well receiving 5-6 hours of continuous sunlight in a day.
Watering
Moist soil makes bodnant viburnum more vigorous. Insufficient water decreases the ornamental value of the whole plant and leads to abnormal flowering. Water management is the key to survival during transplanting. The newly transplanted plants must be irrigated continuously for 3-4 weeks to ensure that the soil is fully absorbent and closely connected with the root system.
During severe hot and dry conditions, 7 to 8 mm of water weekly is sufficient. In daily maintenance, just keep the soil moist. Too much soil moisture affects air permeability, inhibits root respiration, causes rotten roots, and even causes the plant to die in severe cases.
Temperature
The optimum growth temperature range is between 5 to 27 ℃. It has good cold resistance; some native North American species can tolerate temperatures below -25 ℃. Its growth is poor at temperatures above 29 ℃, so it cannot survive in tropical summers. Germination requires 20 consecutive days of seed exposure to 24 ℃.
Bodnant viburnum needs occasional watering during hot and dry conditions. The average plant during its first 2 years of growth needs 1.2 to 1.5 cm water bi-weekly. Once established, it doesn’t need much watering.
Soil
Bodnant viburnum likes fertile, soft, slightly acidic soil with good drainage. It likes moist soil but does not grow well in waterlogged soils. It can grow in moderately fertile, fully drained soils that keep minimum moisture, but cannot withstand poor soil. The optimum soil pH range is 5.5-6.6. It can tolerate acidic media and drought with good air circulation in the root zone, which is made possible by the addition of peat moss or coco coir to the media. The best potting soil would be to mix 1 part of fully decomposed organic matter into 2 parts of garden soil.
Fertilizing
Applying organic fertilizer in a planned and reasonable way can improve soil structure, increase soil organic matter content, and increase soil fertility. Fertilization is indispensable for growth, and fertile soil promotes the overall growth of the plants. When transplanting, apply an adequate amount of basal fertilizer, and apply fertilizer every 2 weeks during the flourishing growth stage. Fertilizer should be applied when the weather is clear and the soil is dry.
To ensure normal growth, fertilization should be carried out before the dormant period or after the leaves are preparing to fall, and before the soil freezes. Don’t fertilize the soft cuttings until they start sprouting. For transplants, fertilizer rich in nitrogen is necessary to initiate vegetative growth. In the later flowering stages, it can be replaced with high phosphorus fertilizer.
Planting Instructions
The best time for transplanting is in late spring or early summer. It is best to plant them all on the same day. Take care that roots aren’t exposed to direct light and are buried deep into the planting pit.
Before planting, you need to know the height of a fully mature plant for the variety that you are growing. Generally, the role of thumb is to divide the height of the plant by 2 to determine to space. For example, if the selected variety is predicted to grow 4 m tall at full maturity, space the plants 2 m apart. Dig a pit measuring 30 cm deep and 30 cm wide.
Pruning
Light pruning to remove dead or dried branches or injured parts of the plant can be done at any time of the year. Bodnant viburnum doesn’t need severe pruning; how much depends on the type of variety and purpose of growing.
Pruning to shape and beautify can be done in the late winter or early spring. When growing for borders and hedges, cut only 1/3 of the branches if they are severely intermingled. In other cases, pruning can be initiated right after flowering but before the setting of fruit. To avoid frost damage, don’t prune during frost or severe cold.
Propagation
Planting bodnant viburnum from seeds is not recommended. It can take 12-18 months. Soft cutting is one of the best options to grow the plant. Be sure each soft cutting contains 2 nodes for both underground and aboveground parts. Mix 1/3 fully decomposed organic matter with 2/3 dugout soil. Place the soft cuttings into a hole and press the soil gently to keep its level at the garden level. Immediate watering will make a suitable watering pit after the soil has settled.
III. Uses and Benefits
One of the most remarkable things about this plant is its lovely pink flowers, which bloom even in the midst of winter. The sweet fragrance of the flowers is also a delight to the senses, making it a popular choice for gardens.