Viburnum plicatum Molly Schroeder

The Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum 'Molly Schroeder' is a recent and delightful Viburnum from China, forming a beautiful deciduous shrub with a tiered Japanese-style elegance. It stands out for its long pink flowering, a rare colour among Viburnums, especially as this hue appears from the opening of the flat inflorescences reminiscent of some hydrangeas, and persists until the fruits form. Bright green foliage, reminiscent of hazelnuts, further enhances the refinement of this plant of great beauty, yet easy to acclimate in any good garden soil.

The Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum is a shrub from the Caprifoliaceae family originating from China and Japan. 'Molly Schroeder' distinguishes itself mainly through its pink flowering and less vigorous growth. With a horizontal branching, the plant presents a characteristic tiered growth, its structured yet light silhouette making it appealing all year round, even in winter. At maturity, it will reach around 2.40m in height by 1.50m in spread, with a rather slow growth rate. Flowering occurs in May and continues until June. The 10cm wide flat cymes inflorescences develop at the end of the branches. They consist of a peripheral crown of well-developed, elliptical pink-veined cream sterile flowers, surrounding small fertile flowers in the form of pink then white buds. Once pollinated, the flowers turn into small red then black berries when ripe. The deciduous leaves, measuring 5 to 10cm long, are oval, tapered, strongly veined, with regularly serrated edges. They are a bright, satiny green on top, with a more pubescent underside. The foliage displays beautiful colours in autumn, from dark burgundy red to violet.

This Viburnum 'Molly Schroeder' is best planted in a flower shrub bed, alongside a Kolkwitzia amabilis with its beautiful spring pink flowering, a Clerodendrum trichotomum, a Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea' whose purple foliage will enhance its pink inflorescences. It can also be paired with compact photinias, elaeagnus, Philadelphus or Lillà, camellias or hydrangeas in non-calcareous soil, the choice is vast. It also deserves to be placed as a standalone in a small garden or at the centre of a bed of low perennials and grasses, due to its beautiful presence in winter.