Viburnum plicatum

Family: Caprifoliaceae. Native range: Japan, China.

Unfortunately, this species, its varieties, ornamental forms and cultivars are absent from nurseries in our country. Work on the introduction and acclimatization of this viburnum is desirable, because its ornamental qualities are very high, and its cold hardiness, despite breeding in a warm climate, is sufficient for cultivation in many zones.

Viburnum plicatum - a shrub up to 3 m tall, flowering in early summer. The leaves are attractive, broadly ovate, herbaceous-green in color. The leaf surface is finely folded due to numerous parallel veins branching from the midrib and strongly dividing into transverse veins. The more of these wrinkles on the leaf surface, the more velvety it appears. The leaf tip is shortly acuminate. Inflorescences on each shoot arise from two lateral opposite buds: from each - one inflorescence and two leaves, while a vegetative growth shoot develops from the central bud. As a result of this arrangement, the mass of inflorescences forms on the shrub with green leaves a kind of layered cake: horizontal layers of white inflorescences alternate with similar layers of velvety green leaves, creating a magnificent spectacle. Each inflorescence reaches 10 cm in diameter and consists of a rather loose center - fertile creamy-white flowers, fluffy with stamens and pistils that rise slightly above the cup with tiny petals, and fluttering along the edges pure white "butterflies" - sterile flowers.