Ditch Hydrangeas: The Better Flowering Shrub For Urban Gardens

Lots of people love hydrangeas, but some types can be a bit finicky. Broadleaf (Hydrangea macrophylla) hydrangeas might lose buds after cold winters or develop powdery mildew, and many hydrangeas can be susceptible to leaf spot or various pests. One flowering shrub with beautiful pale pink flower clusters makes a compact and resilient shrub for urban gardens that's a great alternative to hydrangeas. 

Korean spice viburnum (Viburnum carlesii) is a well-shaped viburnum shrub that resembles a small tree, with graceful branches covered in dark green leaves. Like oakleaf hydrangeas, this shrub may also put on an autumn show when its leaves turn deep wine red. It's generally cold-hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 7, depending on the cultivar. 'Spice Island' is hardy in zones 5 to 9, and 'Spice Girl' prefers 4 to 8. The mature size averages between 4 and 6 feet tall and wide. For smaller urban gardens, there's a dwarf cultivar called 'Spice Baby' that grows 3 to 5 feet tall. 

Korean spice viburnum is highly sought after for being one of the easiest-to-care-for flowering shrubs that make your yard smell amazing. The round flower clusters appear in early, mid, or late spring (depending on the variety and zone), opening from tiny coral pink buds, and can last for a few weeks. The creamy white flowers, tinged with pale pink, give off a delightfully spicy fragrance similar to stock or carnations, and attract various pollinators, including butterflies. The floral scent is distinctive but not overpowering, and adding just one flowering branch to a vase will gently perfume a room for several days.

This shrub is a member of the elderberry family and is similarly robust and hardy. Choose a spot for your Korean spice viburnum that gets partial to full sun to ensure good blooms. Morning sun, or filtered all-day light, is ideal. A well-draining soil that is slightly acidic is best for this shrub. Adding some organic matter, such as compost, when planting will get it off to a good start. Give it regular water until it's established, but after the first season, these shrubs are fairly drought-tolerant.

Unlike hydrangeas, this viburnum requires no special pruning. Just prune lightly to shape it after flowers have faded, and remove any dead or damaged branches as they appear. Your Korean spice viburnum is also deer-resistant, and needs no special amendments aside from some fertilizer in the spring. Top dressing with some compost in fall will provide nutrients and keep soil drainage optimal, and a natural mulch such as pine bark will help protect the roots in areas with cold winters.

Many viburnum species produce attractive berries in autumn, and these draw songbirds to the garden who enjoy the berries for a snack. Korean spice viburnum also produces bird-attracting berries, though the plants are not self-pollinating, so to encourage berry production, you will need to plant two different cultivars that flower around the same time.