Viburnum dentatum Blue Muffin

Viburnum dentatum Blue Muffin is a variety of bush that has retained the rustic character of the species, while concentrating its qualities on a compact and remarkably colourful bush. Charming, it offers white flowers in early summer, gathered in flat-topped clusters, soon replaced by an abundance of fleshy berries that are all the more ornamental as they persist for a long time, resembling blue pearls placed on a transfigured autumn foliage, invaded by golden yellow and then deep red. This attractive fruiting is also very popular with birds. Not demanding in terms of soil type and exposure, this bush requires freshness at its base.

Originally from Eastern America, Viburnum dentatum used to provide wood for Native Americans' arrows. Formerly classified in the family Caprifoliaceae, it now belongs to the Adoxaceae family. 

The Blue Muffin variety stands out for its more modest development and increased floribundity. It is a bush with an upright bushy habit reaching about 2m (6ft 7in) in height and 1.25m (4ft 1in) in width, with a rather slow growth. Flowering begins in late May or early June. It is abundant, in the form of light and airy flat-topped clusters, 4 to 10 centimetres (1.6 to 3.9 inches) in diameter at the end of the branches. The flowers are white. This flowering is followed by beautiful blue fruit that persists until winter on the bush. The fruit is ovoid, measuring 5 millimetres in diameter and contains only one seed. It remains on the bush for a good part of the winter. These berries attract birds, which will brighten up the shortest and saddest days of the year. Its deciduous foliage is composed of leaves with very toothed edges (hence the name of the plant), with strongly marked veins, almost round, sometimes bearing tufts of down on the undersides. Bright green and glossy from spring to summer, it turns yellow, then orange and red, with metallic reflections of copper and varnished mahogany.

Hardy well beyond -15°C (5 °F), Viburnum Blue Muffin thrives in sunny, semi-shaded or even shaded positions, but in cool soil. It is mainly used in mixed hedges or shrub beds. In this use, it will accompany other viburnums with staggered flowering (Viburnum lantana, Viburnum x bodnantense, Viburnum x burkwoodii), deciduous Euonymus, or a Cotinus for autumnal flamboyance. A few conifers with dark foliage (Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Baby Blue', Pinus cembra 'Compacta Glauca'), some evergreen shrubs (Eleagnus ebbingei, Viburnum tinus), will form a natural and fascinating screen, fragrant all year round. This champion of hardiness allows for the installation of a very pleasant rustic atmosphere in the company of native plants such as medlars, hazelnuts, hawthorns, some perennials, always in a rustic and local spirit: viper's bugloss, teasels, coquelourdes. Finally, enhance the base of your hedge with some spring bulbs to start the year as early as possible.