Viburnum trilobum Wentworth

Viburnum trilobum 'Wentworth' is a variety of cranberry bush selected for its abundant spring flowering, followed by fruits resembling large cranberries. Little known to French gardeners, the cranberry bush with its rustic appearance originates from the cold regions of North America, boasting a dense growth habit and remarkable robustness. The autumn colours of this variety are among the most beautiful that can be observed. While the fruits appeal to birds, they also delight humans who can consume them like cranberries.

Originating from Canada and the Northern United States, Viburnum trilobum is a deciduous shrub extremely resistant to cold and wet soils. Hardy, it thrives in any good garden soil that is not too dry. Formerly classified in the Caprifoliaceae family, this viburnum now belongs to the Adoxaceae family. The 'Wentworth' variety was selected in England in the early 1900s. It stands out from the typical species with its particularly abundant flowering, giving way to an equally generous fruiting, with more numerous and larger fruits.

The plant forms a large rounded bush averaging 3.40 m in all directions, with a moderately fast growth, spreading laterally through the production of suckers. The branches are grey and slightly arched at their tips. Flowering begins in late May or early June, on the previous year's branches. The flat clusters are white and located at the end of the branches. On each inflorescence, the larger sterile flowers surround a small centre composed of fertile button-shaped flowers. This flowering is followed by a superb scarlet red fruiting. The fruit remains on the bush during winter, acquiring a sweeter taste in the cold. These berries attract birds, brightening up the shortest and gloomiest days of the year. Its foliage is deciduous, the leaves are lobed in 3 sections (hence the plant's name), 8 to 10 cm long, with strongly marked veins. Dark green from spring to summer, the foliage changes colour in autumn. The combination of the bright red fruiting with the crimson and purple-violet tones of the foliage is simply breathtaking.

Hardy well below -15°C, Viburnum 'Wentworth' thrives in a sunny position to enhance its autumn colours, in ordinary but moist soil. It is primarily used in mixed hedges or shrub borders. In this usage, it can be paired with other viburnums with staggered flowering times (V. lantana, V. x bodnantense, V. x burkwoodii, V. opulus 'Xanthocarpum'), deciduous euonymus, or a Cotinus for autumnal flamboyance. This incredibly hardy plant allows for the creation of a very pleasant rustic atmosphere alongside native plants like medlar, hazel, hawthorn, Prunus mahaleb, blackthorn, hedge honeysuckle ...