Viburnum dentatum Blue Muffin

The Viburnum dentatum 'Blue Muffin' is a variety of viburnum that has retained the rustic character of this species, while concentrating its qualities on a compact and remarkably colourful shrub. Charming, it offers in early summer white flowers gathered in flattened corymbs, soon replaced by an abundance of fleshy berries that are all the more ornamental as they persist for a long time, resembling blue pearls placed on a transfigured autumn foliage, invaded by golden yellow then deep and icy red. This lovely fruiting is also very appealing to birds. Not very demanding on soil type and exposure, this viburnum does require freshness at its base.

Originally from Eastern America, the Viburnum dentatum once provided Native Americans with wood for their arrows. Formerly classified in the Caprifoliaceae family, it now belongs to the Adoxaceae family.

The 'Blue Muffin' variety stands out for its more modest growth and increased floriferousness. It is a bushy upright shrub reaching about 2 m in height and 1.25 m in spread, with a rather slow growth rate. Flowering begins in late May or early June. It is abundant, in the form of light and airy flattened clusters, 4 to 10 centimetres in diameter at the end of branches. The flowers are white. This flowering is followed by beautiful blue fruit that persists until winter on the shrub. The fruit is ovoid, measures 5 millimetres in diameter, and contains only one seed. It remains on the shrub for much of the winter. These berries attract birds, which will brighten up the shortest and dreariest days of the year. Its deciduous foliage is composed of leaves with very serrated edges (hence the plant's name), strongly marked veins, almost round, sometimes carrying tufts of down on the underside. Bright green and glossy from spring to summer, it turns yellow, then orange and red, with metallic reflections of copper and polished mahogany.

Hardy well beyond -15°C, the Viburnum 'Blue Muffin' thrives in sunny, semi-shady, or even shady locations, but in moist soil. It is mainly used in mixed hedges or shrub borders. In this use, it will accompany other viburnums with staggered bloom times (Viburnum lantana, Viburnum x bodnantense, Viburnum x burkwoodii), deciduous euonymus, or a Cotinus for autumnal flamboyance. Some conifers with dark foliage (Chamaecyparis pisifera Baby Blue, Pinus cembra Compacta Glauca), some evergreen shrubs (Eleagnus ebbingei, Viburnum tinus), will form a natural and fascinating screen, fragrant all year round. This champion of hardiness allows for the creation of a very pleasant rustic atmosphere in the company of native plants like medlar, hazel, hawthorn, some perennials, always in a rustic and local spirit: viper's bugloss, thistles, campions. Lastly, enhance the base of your hedge with some spring bulbs to start the year as early as possible.