We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Gardening

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Korean Spice Viburnum?

By Anna Harrison
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 10,532
Share

A Korean spice viburnum, or Viburnum carlesii, is a shrub belonging to the Caprifoliaceae family of flowering plants native to southeast Asia. It is valued for the strong spicy aroma of its flowers which can scent an entire yard. For this reason, these garden plants are often placed under windows or along walkways. They can grow to about 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and can spread to a width of 8 feet (2.4 m) or more.

These shrubs have a sprawling vase shape with very open branches that become thicker as they age. Stunning light pink flower clusters appear in early spring, which fade to white in just a few weeks. As the short blooming season ends in early summer, the flowers turn into red or black berries which are very attractive to songbirds and other wildlife. In addition to the colorful berries, the broad, pale green leaves turn reddish or purple in fall, adding to the year round interest of these garden plants.

Korean spice viburnum shrubs are very hardy and will survive temperatures as cold as -20° Fahrenheit (28° Celsius). They prefer to grow in full sun, but they will also tolerate partial shade, and are not picky about soil type. Korean spice viburnum does well in areas with very hot summers and will endure dry weather once they have become established. They benefit from the addition of compost, though care should be taken to avoid overfertilizing this shrub; it may result in too much leafy growth and no flower production.

These deciduous shrubs require regular pruning to keep them manageable and healthy. Viburnums bloom on old wood, so pruning should be done immediately after flowering to give these shrubs time to produce new growth for flowering the following year. Propagating Korean spice viburnum can be done by stem cuttings, which should be taken from soft wood with several leaves on each cut stem. They should be planted in light potting soil and kept in an airtight Ziploc bag until rooted, which usually takes about a month.

Butterflies are attracted to the flowers of the Korean spice viburnum, and many types of butterfly caterpillars feed on the leaves. The Viburnum Leaf Beetle is the only insect pest which causes significant damage to these plants. This beetle is native to Europe, but has spread throughout the eastern U.S. and Canada; it can completely defoliate these shrubs, causing severe die back and even killing them. The beetles can be kept under control by cutting and destroying infested branches although it may become necessary to use a pesticide if the infestation is severe.

Share
HomeQuestionsAnswered is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.homequestionsanswered.com/what-is-a-korean-spice-viburnum.htm
Copy this link
HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

HomeQuestionsAnswered, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.