Viburnum dilatatum Michael Dodge

Viburnum dilatatum 'Michael Dodge' is a bush with linden-like leaves, also known as the broad panicle bush. It is particularly interesting for its profusion of astonishing bright yellow berries that persist long into autumn. This deciduous bush has a rounded habit, denser and more compact than usual varieties, and produces flattened white inflorescences in spring. Its foliage turns beautiful scarlet red in autumn. A distinctive and colourful country bush that adapts to any good garden soil that is not too dry.

Viburnum dilatatum 'Michael Dodge' is a cross between V. dilatatum and V. opulus 'Xanthocarpum', selected in 1969 within the Winterthur gardens. It forms a relatively unknown bush. Viburnum dilatatum, also known as the broad panicle bush or linden-like leaf bush, belongs to the Viburnaceae family. Native to China, it deserves its place in our gardens thanks to its beautiful textured leaves and its impressive white inflorescences arranged in corymbs, followed by persistent berries that are particularly ornamental. This bush has a rounded habit with upright branches, reaching a height of 2 to 4m (7 to 13ft) and a width of 3m (10ft). Its leaves are opposite, like the leaves of a linden tree. In autumn, the foliage becomes scarlet red and persists until the leaves fall late in the season.

Completely hardy, 'Michael Dodge' is a low-maintenance plant. It thrives in sunny or semi-shady positions and flourishes in any ordinary soil, preferably moist, even limestone and clay. It can tolerate shade, but it blooms less and its autumnal colours will be more muted. It can be used as a specimen plant in small gardens. In larger gardens, use in hedges or in borders. In a hedge, it can be combined with European spindle, Cotinus, oakleaf hydrangea, and Physocarpus.