Gordovina viburnum

Family Caprifoliaceae. One of the most well-known and beautiful viburnums with black fruits, which are also edible. It is distributed in Central and Southern Europe, Asia Minor, North Africa, and the North Caucasus.

It has a completely different appearance compared to our native red viburnum. It is a dense shrub up to 5 m tall. The crown is dense, compact, with a diameter of 2.5–3 m.

Very attractive are the ovate-elliptic rugose leaves up to 18 cm long. They are firm to the touch, broad, dark green above and gray-woolly beneath. In June numerous creamy-white, corymbose inflorescences open, composed of uniform flowers. The diameter of a single flower is about 1.5 cm. It blooms in May–June. Flowering lasts 15–25 days. From each flower a drupe later forms. During fruit ripening gordovina is especially beautiful. At first all the fruits are red and shiny, then they turn black, but not all at once. Until all berries ripen, clusters contain both red and black berries simultaneously. Fruits fully ripen in September and adorn the plant for over 20 days. In October they shrivel and do not look as attractive as a month earlier. The juice is retained, but in small amount; however, the berries can be eaten, as they are quite edible.

Gordovina viburnum is one of the best ornamental shrubs, long used in the landscaping of gardens and parks. It is undemanding to soils, shade-tolerant, frost-hardy, drought-resistant, tolerates urban conditions, and retains beautiful pinkish-red autumn leaves and black shiny fruits until the beginning of winter. It propagates well by seed. Unlike the common viburnum, it is not affected at all by the viburnum leaf beetle.

One of the best ornamental shrubs, showy during flowering, at fruit ripening and in the autumn period with brightly colored foliage. Used in group and solitary plantings in gardens and parks as edges and hedges. Combines well with oak and linden.

Has ornamental forms: the variegated form (f variegata) — with yellow-variegated leaves; and the rugose form (f. rugosa) — with larger inflorescences and larger, more rugose leaves.

'Aureum'. A shrub 2–3 m high (grows quickly), with attractive oval leaves. The leaves are golden above and downy, silvery-woolly beneath. At 7 years the height is 1.3 m, crown diameter 90 cm. Vegetative period from mid-April to mid-October. Growth rate medium. Flowers in May. Fruits not observed. Fully winter-hardy. 80% of summer cuttings take root.

'Aureo-variegatum'. Leaves with yellow spots and streaks. Blooms in May, sometimes fruits.