Viburnum dilatatum Michael Dodge

The Viburnum dilatatum 'Michael Dodge' is a Viburnum with linden-like leaves, also known as a viburnum with wide panicles, particularly interesting for its profusion of amazing small bright yellow berries that persist long into autumn. This deciduous shrub has a rounded, denser and more compact habit than usual varieties, and produces flat, white inflorescences in spring. Its foliage turns beautiful scarlet red hues in autumn. A quirky, original and colourful countryside shrub that adapts to any good garden soil that is not too dry.

The Viburnum dilatatum 'Michael Dodge' is a cross between a Viburnum dilatatum and a Viburnum opulus Xanthocarpum, selected in 1969 within the Winterthur gardens. It forms a little-known shrub. The Viburnum dilatatum, also known as a viburnum with wide panicles or viburnum with linden-like leaves, is a shrub from the Caprifoliaceae family. Native to China, it deserves its place in our gardens thanks to its beautiful textured leaves, but especially the presence of imposing white inflorescences arranged in corymbs, followed by persistent berries that are particularly ornamental. This viburnum has a rounded shape with upright branches, reaching a height of 2 to 4 m and a width of 3 m. Its leaves are opposite like those of a linden tree. In autumn, the foliage turns scarlet red, which persists as the leaves fall late in the season.

Completely hardy, the viburnum with linden-like leaves 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. This Viburnum dilatatum 'Michael Dodge' can thrive in shade, but it will flower less and its autumn colours will be duller. It is used as a standalone plant to attract attention in small gardens, in hedges or as part of borders in larger gardens. In a hedge, it can be associated with European spindle trees, Cotinus, oakleaf hydrangeas, Physocarpus.