Viburnum carlesii Aurora

Viburnum carlesii 'Aurora' is an interesting variety of Viburnum carlesii bred for its more compact habit and slightly more colourful flowering. For the rest, this shrub with a nicely rounded habit possesses the same ornamental qualities as its parent: a pleasantly fragrant early spring flowering, beautiful autumn foliage, and lots of charm. It can be planted as a hedge, in the back of a border, or as a specimen near the house to fully enjoy its beautiful flowering.

Viburnum carlesii 'Aurora' is a horticultural cultivar from Slieve Donard (Northern Ireland) dating back to 1950. Its wild ancestor, Viburnum carlesii, is native to Korea and Japan. This 'Aurora' variety is a deciduous shrub of the Caprifoliaceae family, very hardy, moderately fast growing, with a rounded habit, reaching about 2m (7ft 6in) in all directions at maturity. Around the month of April, while its young leaves unfold, it becomes covered with flowers arranged in round clusters measuring 10-12cm (3.9 - 4.7in) in diameter. The red flower buds open into small white flowers with pale pink reverses, exhaling a scent of hyacinth and orange blossom. Its foliage, well-filled, consists of crinkled and toothed leaves reaching 11cm (4.3in) in length. Green-bronze in colour, they turn into shiny dark green before becoming yellow and then orange-red in autumn before falling.

Like all viburnums, Viburnum  carlesii 'Aurora' is a hardy and easy-to-grow shrub in non-limestone soil. It can be planted as a specimen in a small garden, or as a hedge or in a border in larger gardens. Its inflorescences can be used in bouquet arrangements. Consider planting it in a high-traffic area to fully enjoy its fragrance, under a window or near a door, for example. It can be combined with many other flowering shrubs, foliage plants, or decorative fruit-bearing plants: Japanese maples, Garlic Mustard, Paniculate Hydrangeas, Star Magnolia...