Carles' Viburnum

Family Caprifoliaceae. Naturally distributed in Korea, where it grows as a low shrub up to 1.5 m tall, with horizontally spreading branches forming a broad, rounded crown.

Young shoots stellately pubescent. Leaves up to 10 cm, broadly ovate or elliptical, with an acute apex and rounded base. The leaf blade is irregularly sharply serrate along the margin, green above, paler beneath, softly stellately pubescent on both sides. Flowers up to 1.5 cm in diameter, pink on the outside, white inside, very fragrant, in dense, hemispherical, corymb-like inflorescences up to 7 cm across, opening simultaneously with the leaves. Fruits ellipsoid, blue-black, up to 1 cm.

Carles' viburnum is heat-loving. It is valued for its attractive shrub form, abundant early flowering, and strong fragrance. Used in solitary plantings and small groups. In cultivation since 1902. The cultivar 'Аврора' ('Aurora') is known — lower-growing than the species (up to 1 m), slow-growing, with attractive autumn leaf color (from orange-red to dark red). More resistant in cultivation to frost and pests than the species.