Koreanspice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii ‘Compactum’)

Features and Characteristics

Viburnum carlesii commonly called Koreanspice viburnum is a slow-growing, upright, rounded, deciduous shrub which typically matures to 4-5′ tall but may reach a height of 8′ in optimum growing conditions. Red buds open in late March/early April to pink-changing-to-white flowers which are arranged in snowball-like clusters (hemispherical cymes) to 3″ across. Flowers are very fragrant. Flowers give way to non-showy, berry-like drupes which mature to blue-black in late summer. Broad ovate, serrate, dark green leaves (to 4″ long) are infrequently flushed with copper. Foliage usually turns dull red in fall, but may sometimes display attractive shades of wine-red to burgundy.

Genus name comes from the Latin name of a species plant.

Specific epithet honors William Richard Carles (c. 1867-1900) of the British consular service in China who collected plants in Korea.

‘Compactum’ is a compact, slow-growing, rounded, deciduous shrub which typically matures 3-4′ tall with a similar spread. It has pink buds.